Rappler
Cone says Fajardo-Sotto Gilas combination a joy to watch
Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone expressed his enjoyment of the synergy between Kai Sotto and June Mar Fajardo during their 93-89 victory against New Zealand in a 2025 FIBA Asia Cup qualifier.
Sotto delivered an impressive performance with 19 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 blocks, and 2 steals, earning praise from teammate Justin Brownlee who believes Sotto is "good enough" for the NBA.
Fajardo contributed 6 points and 3 rebounds, with two of his baskets assisted by Sotto.
Cone highlighted the great chemistry and synergy between the two Filipino big men, noting how they complement each other on the court.
He praised their hard work in establishing their successful partnership and emphasized how rare and enjoyable it is to see two dominant inside players excelling together in contemporary basketball.
The win preserved Gilas Pilipinas' unbeaten run in the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.
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Gilas Pilipinas achieved a historic 93-89 victory over New Zealand in the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers, marking their first win against the Tall Blacks in this tournament after an eight-year drought.
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National coach Tim Cone is optimistic about Gilas Pilipinas' chances in the second window of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers, largely due to the return of June Mar Fajardo.
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Gilas Pilipinas secured a main draw seat in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers with a 93-89 victory over New Zealand.
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Seven-foot-three Kai Sotto has been cleared to play for Gilas Pilipinas in the upcoming FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers after successfully completing concussion protocol.
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Kai Sotto is emerging as the most efficient big man for Gilas Pilipinas in the Fiba Asia Cup Qualifiers with a 28.7 efficiency rating, second only to Justin Brownlee's tournament-best average of 33.7.
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