The injured Kai Sotto remained present for Gilas Pilipinas as the nationals defeated the Macau Black Bears on Monday, July 28, as a part of their preparations for the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup.

The 7-foot-3 ace, who is currently recovering from his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear that he suffered in January in the Japan B.League, was in attendance to support his brothers in their send-off game at the Araneta Coliseum.

“‘Yun ‘yung malaking bagay na nakaka-miss. Kaya sabi ko kanina, ‘yun ‘yung one of the reasons why ayaw ko sana manood ng live,” Sotto told reporters after the game.

“Nami-miss ko ‘yung paglaro-laro, and mas nami-miss ko na parang, ‘Man, nandito dapat ako eh.’ Pero, syempre, kailangan ko rin isipin na right now, all I can do is support the team. So, I think that’s all I can do,” he added.

Unfortunately for Sotto, who will enter the seventh month of his recovery in August, he will also be missing Gilas’ trip to Jeddah as he is set to return to Japan.

“Nagre-rehab lang ako to make sure na mas malakas pa ako, para mas maayos pakiramdam ng tuhod ko kaysa sa previous days,” he shared. “It feels good, pero hindi pa siya perfect. So, hindi ko pwede madaliin ‘yung recovery ko.”

But while the former Ateneo High School star will not be able to support the Nationals in Jeddah, he remains active in rooting for them despite being a thousand miles away.

“Just keep working and keep doing,” Sotto said.

“Mag-ingat sila. Sana, walang mangyayari na injuries.” (ABS-CBN News)