Kai Sotto's ACL injury hurts Gilas Pilipinas
Kai Sotto's absence due to an ACL injury has significantly impacted Gilas Pilipinas, leading to four losses in their last five international games.
Head coach Tim Cone emphasized that Sotto's key role averages of 15.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 3.8 assists have left a void for the team as they prepare for the FIBA Asia Cup in August.
Gilas struggled during both the Doha International Cup and the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers, suffering offensive issues against Chinese Taipei and falling short in their comeback attempt against New Zealand with scores of 91-84 and 87-70 respectively.
Coach Cone acknowledged the team's challenges but stressed that they are focusing on long-term growth despite the current setbacks.
The Philippines faces fiercer competition in the FIBA Asia Cup, including teams like Australia, Korea, New Zealand, China, Japan, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Qatar, and Lebanon.
This story was generated by AI to help you understand the key points. For more detailed coverage, please see the news articles from trusted media outlets below.