Playing with former teammates with Batang Gilas gave Kai Sotto the confidence he needed to play a really good game when Gilas Pilipinas came off with a 106-53 demolition of Chinese Taipei on Sunday at the Philsports Arena.
The 7’3” Sotto’s great game allowed Gilas to move on top of the Group B standings with New Zealand with their second straight win.
This put Gilas on top of the standings with the Kiwis after their Window 1 campaign in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers.
“Confidence came from preparations to play really well,” said Sotto, before he went to back to Japan to be with his new squad, the Yokohama B.Corsairs.
Sotto got to play with teammates Kevin Quiambao and Carl Tamayo, with AJ Edu giving him support from the sidelines.
Quiambao, Tamayo and Edu managed to adjust their inside game with Sotto during the training camp at the Inspire Academy in Laguna.
“We prepared at the Inspire training camp twice a day. It was tough, it was tiring. But what we did showed in the game,” added Sotto.
Sotto will be back for the second window in November.
This weekend, Sotto and the Corsairs will meet at the Kawasaki Brave Runners, before they take on the Toyama Grouses on March 20.
In Gilas’ game with Chinese-Taipei, Sotto also had a double-double outing of 18 points and 10 rebounds, to go with 5 assists and 3 blocks.