Kai Sotto back injury nothing major; Scottie Thompson expected to fully recover by August 18

Orlando Magic center Kai Sotto during a huddle at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. Photo screengrabbed from NBA Philippines’ video

MANILA, Philippines-Gilas Pilipinas heaved a sigh of relief as Kai Sotto’s back injury is nothing serious.

Sotto sustained a back problem during his last game with the Orlando Magic in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas over the weekend.

Whether he immediately reunites with the National Five training for the Fiba World Cup, however, is another question altogether.

“I had a chance to talk to Tony Ronzone from (Sotto’s management team) Wasserman and he said that all the X-rays came back negative, so that’s good news. But I haven’t had the chance to talk to Kai himself,” Reyes told reporters on Monday night, shortly after the training pool’s practice at Meralco Gym in Pasig City.

Sotto, according to Reyes, is arriving in Manila on Tuesday but added that “whether he comes to practice or not, that I don’t know. Negotiations are still being handled.”

“Unless he’s here, that’s the only time we can be so sure. If he shows up,” the concurrent program director added.

Sotto played for Gilas alongside NBA star Jordan Clarkson in the fourth window of the World Cup Qualifiers held in Beirut and in Pasay City. He last suited up for the National Five during the fifth window of the World Cup Qualifiers, which saw the Philippines triumph over Jordan and Saudi Arabia on the road.

The 21-year-old Sotto then opted out of the sixth and final window held in Bulacan where he would’ve provided the Gilas brain trust an eye test on how he pairs well with Justin Brownlee, the other option for a naturalized player aside from Clarkson and Ange Kouame.

Gilas Pilipinas’ Scottie Thompson nursing an injured hand. –SBP PHOTO

Meanwhile, Scottie Thompson is expected to fully recover from a fractured right hand by August 18, according to Gilas deputy and Ginebra coach Tim Cone. And Reyes acknowledges that such a timeline would put the Gilas in a bind.

“If he gets cleared only on August 18 to start practicing, I think that’s going to be too difficult [for us all],” Reyes said.

Cone assured that all measures are being exhausted to have the do-it-all Ginebra playmaker and PBA Most Valuable Player fully recovered earlier than scheduled.

Gilas is scheduled to play in a pocket tournament in China and figure in a slew of friendlies here at home to prime for the global meet which the Philippines is cohosting alongside Japan and Indonesia beginning Aug. 25.

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