KAI Sotto will have to be ready to face taller, heftier players when he sees action in the 2018 FIBA Under-17 Basketball World Cup in June in Argentina.
That’s because the opposing teams that Batang Gilas will face will field in even bigger players than the current ones in the national under-16 roster.
“Sa World Cup, iyung kalaban namin, mas malalaki pa sa amin. Kaya iyun ang isang kailangang ma-improve namin,” said the 7’1” Sotto.
Sotto talked about Batang Gilas’ coming stint in the World Cup during celebrations held in the team’s honor after their successful campaign in the Fiba Under-16 Asian Championship in Foshan, China.
Batang Gilas was feted during celebrations held in their honor by Chooks to Go Roasted Chicken and Bountry Fresh top executive Ronald Mascarinas.
National coach Mike Oliver said they won’t have the luxury of recruiting foreign or Fil-foreign players in their next campaign, new faces who can back up Sotto and the current members of the squad.
But they have been going around, seeking prospects to come over and join Batang Gilas.
“Hindi pa namin alam kung papayagan sila. But definitely, kung mag-a-upgrade, homegrown,” said Oliver.
The 31st-world ranked Philippines is in Group D, along with 7th-ranked Argentina, 8th-ranked Croatia, and 9th ranked France.
The World Cup will be from June 30 to July 8 in Rosario and Santa Fe, Argentina.
But whatever happens to Batang Gilas in the group stage, they are already seeded in the Round of 16.