Sotto avoids fracture, status vs. Brazil still uncertain

Photo courtesy of: FIBA

National team standout Kai Sotto did not sustain a serious injury during the Philippines’ defeat to Georgia on Thursday but his status for Gilas’ upcoming semifinal matchup against Brazil on Saturday remains uncertain.

Team manager Richard Del Rosario told ALL-STAR Magazine that the x-ray result on Sotto’s rib showed no fracture, but because the talented 22-year-old big man still feels sore, he will be a game-time decision in their next contest.

Sotto was hurt when Georgia big man and NBA player Goga Bitadze landed on him after attempting to block the Filipino’s floater attempt close to the rim in the second quarter of their matchup.

The Gilas standout took a while to get up as head coach Tim Cone and his teammates went to check on him. Sotto sat on the bench afterwards and was attending to by the team physician. He didn’t return the rest of the way.

READ: Gilas comeback falls short vs. Georgia, but advances to OQT semis

Cone said in the post-game press conference that Sotto was immediately taken to the hospital for further analysis.

“The fact that we lost him as well and still was able to fight our way back in the game – we got some really good bench production from Carl Tamayo, CJ Perez, Kevin Quiambao, and Japeth Aguilar, our veteran and captain. They really stepped up to the void,” Cone said.

If Sotto is unable to play the Philippines will need the aforementioned bench players to step up once again against a Brazil side that will be just as motivated to make the finals for a chance to win a ticket to the Paris Olympics.

Sotto had 4 points and 2 blocks against Georgia before exiting. He had 18 points and 8 boards in the previous victory against home team Latvia.