Gilas Pilipinas battles with New Zealand in the  FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers in Pasay City on November 21, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers

John Franklin Kennedy Caacbay

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil" style="width:900px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/173633362842920241121-fiba-gilas-newzealand-MQD_0849 (1)-MD.jpg" style="width:900px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Gilas Pilipinas big man Kai Sotto in action. Photo by Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/file</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA, Philippines – Gilas Pilipinas&#x27; Justin Brownlee is sending his prayers to his injured teammate in the national team, Kai Sotto.</p><p>Sotto and the Koshigaya Alphas announced earlier on Wednesday that the 7-foot-3 center sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during their game against the Sea Horses Mikawa last Sunday, where they were eventually handed a 77-79 loss.</p><p>Brownlee on Wednesday expressed hopefulness in Sotto&#x27;s comeback as he acknowledged that the big man&#x27;s injury is a &quot;tough blow&quot; for Gilas.</p><p>&quot;That&#x27;s definitely a tough blow for the team, and personally for Kai. I can only imagine what he&#x27;s going through, but definitely sending my prayers to him,&quot; he said.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/9/28/gilas-stint-prepped-kai-sotto-for-upcoming-b-league-season-1503"><strong>READ: Gilas stint prepped Kai Sotto for upcoming B.League season</strong></a></div><p>&quot;Hopefully he can keep his spirits up,&quot; Brownlee added. &quot;Just get well soon, get through this injury--I hope his surgery goes well and the rehab process and everything&#x27;s go well.&quot;</p><p>This also meant that the men&#x27;s national basketball squad will be playing sans Sotto in the upcoming window of the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers in February.</p><p>Still, the naturalized player sees a &quot;great future&quot; ahead of Sotto despite this.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/1/8/-might-be-the-darkest-day-of-my-career-kai-sotto-suffers-torn-acl-1526"><strong>READ: &#x27;Might be the darkest day of my career&#x27;: Kai Sotto suffers torn ACL</strong></a></div><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/1/5/cone-sticking-with-aguilar-amos-as-gilas-waits-for-update-on-kai-sotto-0108"><strong>READ: Cone sticking with Aguilar, Amos as Gilas waits for update on Sotto’s injury scare</strong></a></div><p>&quot;I still see a great future and what he can bring to the table. You know, just another setback for a major comeback,&quot; Brownlee concluded.</p><p>Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone, meanwhile, courteously <a href="https://x.com/kennedyzcaacbay/status/1877000399095255436"><strong>refused to accept questions </strong></a>regarding Sotto and the injury&#x27;s implications to the national team following Ginebra&#x27;s loss to NorthPort in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner&#x27;s Cup.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/1/8/pba-northport-tightens-grip-on-top-spot-by-overcoming-ginebra-2207"><strong>READ: PBA: NorthPort tightens grip on top spot by overcoming Ginebra<br/></strong></a></div><p>Cone instead raved about the Batang Pier&#x27;s current strengths as they tightened their grip on top of the standings, claiming their seventh win in eight games.</p>

<p>"I still see a great future and what he can bring to the table. You know, just another setback for a major comeback," said Gilas Pilipinas star Justin Brownlee on the injured Kai Sotto.</p>

"I still see a great future and what he can bring to the table. You know, just another setback for a major comeback," said Gilas Pilipinas star Justin Brownlee on the injured Kai Sotto.

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Brownlee sends prayers for injured Kai: 'Just another setback for a major comeback'

Brownlee sends prayers for injured Kai: 'Just another setback for a major comeback'

Kennedy Caacbay,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 08, 2025 11:19 PM PHT

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