Teen phenom Kai Sotto and Indian standout Princepal Singh will miss 11 games in the NBA G League bubble in Orlando, Florida next month.
But Team Ignite will still welcome the 7’3” Sotto, along with Singh back once they are done with their commitments with the Gilas Pilipinas and Indian national men’s basketball team, respectively.
“We want him to do well in those competitions. And when he comes back, we’ll see what happens,” said Team Ignite coach Brian Shaw.
Shaw said Sotto’s situation is similar to Ignite teammate Princepal Singh.
“He (Sotto) will be travelling and playing internationally. And quarantine times can be a lot longer. And we don’t know how that is going to play in terms of him coming back, and if he’s going to play with the team or not,” added Shaw.
Team Ignite will debut without Sotto and Singh starting on Feb. 10 when they clash with the Sta. Cruz Warriors.
Both have obligations with their respective national teams.
The 6’10” Singh is joining India’s campaign in FIBA Asian Cup qualifiers in Group D and has also left the squad ahead of Sotto.
Team Ignite entered the Orlando bubble on Jan. 26, Tuesday without Sotto, who travelled back to the Philippines.
He was supposed to play with the Gilas, but the games were cancelled after Philippine organizers decided not to push through with its hosting of the FIBA-Asia Cup qualifiers next month.
Travel restrictions imposed by the government due to the continuing threat of COVID-19 have forced organizers to call off hosting the cagefest, set from Feb. 18 to 21.
The qualifiers are being rescheduled, with the location of Group A now slated in Doha, Qatar, according to FIBA.