No Kai Sotto for the FIBA Bubble: A Win-Win Situation

Kai Sotto's initial plan to join Gilas Pilipinas for the third window of the 2021 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Asia Cup qualifiers hit a roadblock as the National Basketball Association (NBA) G-League is looking to open their season on February 8, 2021, with their playoffs beginning a month later. The third window of the Asia Cup qualifiers in which Gilas will play in a bubble in Clark is set to happen from February 18 to 22, 2021 which means Sotto won't likely be able to suit up for the Philippine team.

And that's not a problem for Jinno Rufino and Aaron Atayde. As Rufino said on Tuesday's episode of Jump Thru Hoops, "I don't mind that actually (the absence of Sotto in the national team),"

For Rufino, Kai Sotto's possible absence in the February window could benefit Philippine basketball especially with the Philippines set to be one of the three host countries for the 2023 FIBA World Cup. 

"Kai's exposure in the G-League is something that will benefit the Philippines in the future. Can you imagine how much better this kid is gonna be when he does enter his prime and when he comes back to the Philippines and plays for Gilas Pilipinas? He's gonna be so much better,"

For Aaron Atayde, the 2021 Asia Cup qualifiers window in February isn't the right place for Kai Sotto to make his debut for the men's national team. "I would love to see him in a Gilas Pilipinas jersey but I don't think this window is the right one and I don't think we need him there. Again, we are already qualified for the next FIBA World Cup. So, it's not necessary that we need all of the pieces right now, fighting it out and having him away from the training (in the G-League) as well as trying to jell the pieces that we have here," Atayde added, "It's good that we have him committed to the (Gilas) program and I also think that it's good that we are not gonna have him playing in the upcoming window because I guess time is on our side and the best way to do it is to train him with the best trainers in the world, getting ready to make that leap into the NBA, and have the team that we have here train with their potential teammates come 2023 and have the best worlds at the same time,"

"That's still a win-win situation," was Atayde's conclusion.

It's indeed for the long-term success not just of the national team but of Philippine basketball. Just imagine how improved Kai Sotto's game has become by the time he suits up for Gilas Pilipinas. Just imagine. 

Screenshot is from pinoyliga.com Facebook page