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| Kai Sotto's Gilas return is fueled more by his upcoming daddy duties. Cesca Rampas (file photo) |
MANILA—After two years, Kai Sotto returns to Gilas Pilipinas as needed frontline help for the crucial fourth window of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
The seven-foot-three center is expected to play a bigger role for Gilas this weekend and in future games, with Justin Brownlee ruled out for the window and June Mar Fajardo likely retiring from national team duties after Sunday night's battle against Iran.
"Nasaktuhan lang din na fully healthy ako. Kaya naman ako hindi nakapaglaro noong previous years kasi na-injure ako. Sakto, tapos na yung season ko. Offseason ngayon, and wala akong ginagawa," Sotto, who sat out almost the entire 2025 and early into 2026 because of an ACL injury.
Aside from giving Fajardo a fitting Gilas send-off, Sotto said that he got more pumped up when he found out that CJ Perez, who was cut from the Filipinos' third window squad, would be returning too.
"Kinausap kami ni Coach Tim (Cone) and yung management, and nalaman ko rin na babalik si CJ and last window na ni Kuya June. Nagtatagpo-tagpo na rin, so swerte lang na magkasama kami ngayon," Sotto further said.
The former Koshigaya star's biggest motivation right now, though, is his budding family with actress Rere Madrid.
Sotto and Madrid, who got married last May, are pregnant with their first child, a baby boy.
"Sobrang inspiring na may padating na baby, and mas seryoso na gusto kong makuha itong next na dalawang panalo para sa baby ko na parating, sa asawa ko, at sa bansa. Mas motivated ako na maglaro and manalo para sa bansa natin," Sotto further said.
Sotto, who has long been part of Gilas' "Core 12" on the road to Qatar, is expected to crack the starting lineup in his Gilas return against Jordan on Friday night and Iran two nights later.
