MANILA, Philippines — Watching from the sidelines last Sunday, retired PBA star Gabe Norwood said that anytime Kai Sotto suits up for Gilas Pilipinas in an international tournament, one can expect the national team to be highly competitive.
“In a perfect world yeah. (Kai’s) a seven-foot, super high basketball IQ, good and tough around the basket who protects the rim,” said Norwood, following last Sunday’s window 2 of the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifier, where Gilas suffered a 93-66 beating at the hands of world no. 6 ranked Australia at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Sotto, the 7-foot-3 Filipino big man did not make himself available for the second window, which also saw the Philippines suffer a tough 66-69 loss to New Zealand at home.
The 23-year-old Sotto opted to stick with his Japn B.League team Koshigaya Alphas as he continues to recover fully from a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) on his knee.
The 41-year-old Norwood, a many-time member of the Philippine team said the only dilemma when Sotto returns to play for Gilas, is who among the final 12 will be dropped from the roster.
“He’s always gonna help your team,” the two-time PBA champion noted on Sotto. “But at the same time, the decision can be hard, because if you add (Sotto) you take one (spot) away. Who do you take off when Kai comes in?” “I think Kai would definitely help but the decision gets harder on who you gonna take away,” added Norwood, a member of the Gilas team that bagged the silver in the 2013 FIBA Asia men’s championships, a feat that enabled the Philippines to punch a FIBA World Cup ticket in 2014 in Seville, Spain.
Sotto last played for the Philippines in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers where he averaged 15.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.3 blocks.
He was part of the Gilas squad that pulled off a famous 93-89 win against New Zealand in a November 2024 home game at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, marking the first victory of the Philippines since 2016.
For now, reports are circulating that Sotto is eyeing to play college basketball in the United States in the hope of eventually getting noticed by scouts that could possibly be his ticket to playing in the NBA.