Kai Sotto was still nowhere to be found during the Gilas Pilipinas practice at the Meralco Gym on Monday, July 24, but head coach Chot Reyes is staying patient.

(FIBA photos)

Reyes said last week that he is ‘fully expecting’ the 7-foot-3 big man to formally join the Gilas buildup for the 2023 World Cup but Sotto remained scarce during the session that lasted two hours and was attended by 17 players from the pool.

"He’ll be here when he’ll be here,” said Reyes when asked about the status of Sotto with the team.

Sotto already reconnected with Gilas last week when he arrived in the country following his stint with the Orlando Magic in the NBA Summer League.

He underwent an MRI upon his arrival in the country for the back injury which prevented him from finishing the Magic’s final game against the Boston Celtics.

Sotto, who was actually in attendance when the Nationals played the Ateneo Blue Eagles in a closed-door tuneup game at the Moro Lorenzo Gym last Thursday, was earlier reported to be just awaiting the clearance from the doctors to join the practice.

"Let's just wait for Kai," Reyes added.

Gilas veterans Japeth Aguilar and June Mar Fajardo led the attendees along with brothers Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena, Ray Parks Jr., Calvin Oftana, Dwight Ramos, CJ Perez and Chris Newsome.

Rhenz Abando, Ange Kouame, Jamie Malonzo, AJ Edu and RR Pogoy also joined the scrimmage while Justin Brownlee only did light workout for the day. Poy Erram and Scottie Thompson were both in attendance but only watched from the sidelines.

Aside from Sotto, the Gilas stint of NBA star Jordan Clarkson still remained up in the air with only a month left before the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

The two’s absence was also a day before the July 25 target date for Reyes to gather the players who will be joining the trip to China where the Nationals are set to play Iran, Lebanon and Senegal and possibly Puerto Rico.