Kai Sotto is set for another tour of duty for Gilas Pilipinas as he headlines the preliminary pool to be submitted by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas for the fifth window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
The Adelaide big man will be joining Japan-based Filipino players Thirdy and Kiefer Ravena, Dwight Ramos and Ray Parks Jr. along with PBA players selected from the three PBA teams San Miguel, Ginebra and TNT.
Surprisingly, injured SMB big man June Mar Fajardo was included in the pool along with teammate CJ Perez, and Ginebra trio of Jamie Malonzo, Scottie Thompson and Japeth Aguilar.
TNT’s Calvin Oftana, JP Erram and RR Pogoy were part of the pool while NorthPort’s Arvin Tolentino and Will Navarro and injured Meralco guard Chris Newsome, all part of the pool from the previous windows, were also named to the list.
Ateneo big man Ange Kouame will serve as the team’s naturalized player while collegiate standouts Carl Tamayo, Kevin Quiambao and Francis Lopez rounded up the pool.
Gilas has been working on its weekly schedule of training and is expected to turn the preparations a notch higher during the long break starting Monday, Oct. 31, to Wednesday, Nov. 2.
The national team will be leaving next Monday, Nov. 7, for a pair of road games, first on Nov. 10 against Jordan and on Nov. 13 against Saudi Arabia.