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Kai Sotto, who planned a couple of hours before midnight Tuesday, is currently in quarantine and has undergone a first polymerase chain reaction test to meet all government requirements before playing for the team. Gilas Pilipinas for the first time later this month and signal the beginning of an era in Filipino basketball.
The only thing pending now is when he can join the National team to train at a biosafety facility in Laguna.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) officials keep their fingers crossed that Sotto only has to remain in isolation for five days, the old protocol before a new one was established just one day before his arrival.
The Interagency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases announced a new rule effective February 1 that requires inbound passengers from identified COVID-19 hotspots around the world to be quarantined for 14 days. Sotto flew out of the United States prior to that date.
Sotto came to Manila with his father, the former professional Ervin. And if that rule applies to Sotto, then he will be able to join the camp only on February 16, two days before the Nationals open against South Korea in the third window of the Fiba (International Basketball Federation) Asia Cup qualifier. ) which was transferred to Doha in Qatar.
While the SBP had previously announced that there was a possibility that Doha officials would change the schedule to accommodate the large number of equipment that has been transferred there from other canceled window accommodations, the Fiba website still has the Philippines fighting back. Korea on February 18. Indonesia on February 20 and Korea again on February 22.
According to SBP officials, Sotto is in quarantine under strict security measures that prohibit even leaving his room. That means the 7-foot-3 center Ignite in the National Basketball Association’s G-League will have to try to stay in shape using only the body weights and the abdominal roller that he brought with him from the United States.
“The work doesn’t stop,” read the caption of a photo on those portable gym equipment on Sotto’s Instagram story Wednesday morning.
SBP President Al Panlilio warned everyone on Tuesday to push too hard on the 18-year-old wunderkind, who will back a PH Five that will have a sprinkling of professional talent and the best fans in the country.
“We can’t push him too hard. It sure is the future of Filipino basketball, but it is also developing as a player and as a person, ”said Panlilio.
“[L]be easy with it. Let’s not push it too hard. Surely you are already pressed enough. I think he’s pushing himself to do well, we all want him to do well, but let’s support him on his way, ”he added.
The Philippines team will play the Koreans twice and Indonesia once, needing only one win for the tournament to be appropriate. South Korea will be bolstered by the athletic Ricardo Ratliffe (now Ra Gun-ah). Indonesia, on the other hand, will have a Lester Prosper who will do it all.
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