Will Kai Sotto, other Gilas Pilipinas players abroad see action in World Cup qualifiers?

Published September 01, 2021 04:59 PM By BEA MICALLER,GMA News

Since Thirdy Ravena made the leap to the Japan B.League last year, several top Filipino players have followed his footsteps and signed contracts as imports in foreign leagues.

Among them are Thirdy's older brother Kiefer

, Juan and Javi Gomez de Liaño, Kemark Cariño, and Kai Sotto, all of whom recently saw action for Gilas Pilipinas in international tournaments.

With the start of the 2023 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers right around the corner, can these players see action for the national team? According to Tab Baldwin, the team would love to have them but there are a lot of factors to consider for their participation.

"There is going to be movement in and out of the roster. We will have to see what's going to happen with the FIBA release clauses. If they have it in their contract, if the teams will honor that," the Gilas Pilipinas program director told GMA News Online.

Baldwin said 15 to 20 players will be invited to the national pool as they gear up for the World Cup qualifiers. He said some PBA players might also get an invitation, but nothing has been cast in stone yet.

The American-Kiwi mentor said continuity will play a major role in assembling the rosters. Last-minute additions will have to be carefully considered, whether they are PBA players or even Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson, who hopes to become eligible to play for the Philippines as a local.

"Is that going to be an addition to the team when those players aren't assimilated to the system and aren't part of the chemistry or is it going to be a subtraction from the quality of the team?" Baldwin said. "It's part of my job to make that assessment."

"You also have to think about the fact that we're running a program and the existence of this program is to have a team that is together for an extended period of time and to use that chemistry and cohesion as a primary asset of the team," he said.

Gilas has been slotted in Group A in the Asian qualifiers together with New Zealand, South Korea, and India.

The Philippines, which will host the World Cup along with Japan and Indonesia, is already assured of a slot regardless of its results in the qualifiers.

Japan is also assured of a slot while Indonesia needs to finish in the top eight of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup to earn a World Cup berth.

—MGP, GMA News Online

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