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| Kai Sotto is cleared to play for Gilas. From the Orlando Magic's Facebook page |
PASIG--Gilas Pilipinas gets a major boost with only 10 days left before the FIBA World Cup as Kai Sotto has been cleared to play for the team.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio announced on Tuesday that the seven-foot-three beanpole will play for Gilas after Sotto's camp and the federation's medical team reached an agreement.
"The doctors of Kai and the SBP doctor, Dr. Randy Molo, spoke yesterday, and he's been cleared to play. That's good news," Panlilio said during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Meralco Gym here.
Panlilio then said that the doctors decided to meet instead of asking for a magnetic resonance image of Sotto's back injury. The MRI result was reportedly a prerequisite for the SBP for Sotto to play.
"We didn't see any MRI results. What we wanted to do to put closure, really move forward, and just focus on the games is really our doctors met," Panlilio further said.
The next step now, according to Panlilio, is to make Sotto available for Gilas' upcoming tune-up games against Ivory Coast, Montenegro, and Mexico.
Gilas will play Ivory Coast on Friday, Montenegro on Sunday, and Mexico on Monday. All games will be held behind closed doors at the nearby PhilSports Arena.
Sotto is expected to add ceiling to Gilas ahead of their FIBA World Cup opener against Karl-Anthony Towns and the Dominican Republic on Aug. 25 at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue.
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