Kai Sotto couldn’t wait to get out of quarantine and join the final phase of Gilas Pilipinas’ preparation for the third window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers in Doha, Qatar.
“It’s a little challenging pero kahit papaano, I’m making the most out of it,” Sotto said in an online interview with TV personality and former volleyball player Gretchen Ho. “Sobrang excited lang ako sa mga following days pagdating ko sa bubble sa Laguna.”
The 7-foot-3 youngster continues to wait for clearance to be taken out of quarantine in order for him to participate in Gilas’ ongoing training at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna.
Sotto hasn’t been slacking off despite being holed up in a hotel room, keeping himself in shape by doing individual workouts using a stationary bike and a pair of dumbbells.
Sotto will make his senior national team debut in the upcoming window which pits Gilas against South Korea twice and one opposite Indonesia on Feb. 18 to 22 in the Qatari capital.
That meant that the 18-year-old had to skip the early phase of the G-League Ignite’s campaign in the NBA G-League bubble which starts Thursday inside the Walt Disney World Complex in Florida.
Gilas needs just one win to clinch a spot in the continental competition slated mid-August in Indonesia, and Sotto is expected to play a key role in the Doha window.