Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) special assistant to the president Ryan Gregorio revealed on Saturday, January 30 that Kai Sotto is expected to be back in the Philippines by early next week, ahead of Gilas Pilipinas’ third and final window campaign in the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 Qualifiers.
“That’s another one that we’re really focusing on,” said Gregorio on Sotto’s much-awaited arrival.
“There is a strong marching order from our (SBP) president boss Al Panlilio to get him (Sotto) over here,” he added during the online show The Chasedown.
Gregorio, however, admitted that bringing the 18-year-old Sotto home is a little bit more challenging compared to the other obstacles that the SBP had to face in preparing for the February window.
Just recently, the SBP withdrew the Philippines’ hosting of the qualifiers in Clark, Pampanga due to travel restrictions in the country brought by the new coronavirus strain. The third and final window has then been moved to Doha, Qatar in February.
“There are just so many moving parts… This is a little bit more of a challenge for us and more challenging than probably all the other challenges and the hurdles that we have to go through,” he said.
Gregorio noted that complying with the different COVID-19 protocols of the United States and the Philippines made it more difficult to bring the 7-foot-3 Filipino basketball wunderkind home.
The multi-titled PBA coach Gregorio also added that because of the pandemic, the SBP has been very careful of handling the situation.
“It’s just taking longer than expected. If we were living in a normal environment, he would’ve come in probably 7 or 10 days ago. But because of this pandemic, everything is supposed to be cautious,” he said.
Despite the circumstances, Gregorio hopes to see Sotto in the Philippines by early next week and he emphasized that the SBP will strictly follow the protocols from the government and will not go for any shortcuts.
“Hopefully by early next week, we will see Kai in the Philippines,” said Gregorio.
“We are not going to go for shortcuts. We are really following strictly the protocols that [are] out there and the guidance from our government,” he added.
“What’s important here is to get him as soon as possible to the Philippines and we’ll see from there.” – Rappler.com
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