Sotto-Kouame Pair is a Luxury for Gilas

Having Angelo Kouame and Kai Sotto together in the final window of the 2021 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Asia Cup qualifiers will be a big boost for Gilas Pilipinas. How big?

"49," that's the answer Gilas Pilipinas Head Coach Jong Uichico gave on Saturday's episode of Bull By the Horn.

"Kai is a seven-footer times Ange (Koume) is a seven-footer is 49," the nine-time Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) champion coach explained before bursting into laughter.

More than the impact that a potential Kai-Koume frontline would have for the national team, Uichico pointed out that this tandem is a rarity for Philippine basketball.

"This rarely happens in Philippine basketball when you have two seven-footers play in one basketball team. Maybe it has happened (before), but that luxury isn't always there,"

However, having Kai Sotto for the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers bubble in Clark is still in question as he is still in quarantine as part of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) protocols after arriving from the United States last week.

"The question is: since Kai is still serving quarantine protocols, will he be able to make it (on time) for window three or not? Of course, we are expecting. The fans are expecting him to play, but it is not under our control," Uichico pointed out.

The Gilas Pilipinas chief tactician also explained the importance of Kai's ability to adapt to the system and the chemistry that he will build with the rest of the team should he make the final lineup.

"Having two seven-footers is always a luxury and sometimes, a necessity to a basketball team, especially us who are small. But of course, you also have to consider the adjustment period is always there because Kai just arrived and that his adaptation to the system both offensively and defensively will always be a question. I don't doubt the comprehension of Kai's mind because the last time he was here, he was able to pick up quickly. We are also talking about chemistry. They just got to know each other, so that's another question that can only be answered once Kai is there,"

It now goes down to one question: Will Kai Sotto make the final roster?

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