Gilas holds breath as docs examine extent of big man’s injury

PHOTO: FIBA.BASKETBALL

KAI SOTTO has been brought to the hospital to have his ribs checked after getting hurt in the second quarter of Gilas Pilipinas’ loss to Georgia on Thursday in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

READ Gilas marches on to OQT semifinals after two-point loss to Georgia

Gilas coach Tim Cone said Sotto underwent an X-ray to determine the extent of the injury that kept him out of the remainder of the game.

“He is in the hospital checking out his rib. We don’t have any news on that yet on how far or whether he will be able to go forward,” said Cone during the postgame press conference.

The Japan B.League import got hurt at the 6:42 mark of the second quarter after a collision between him and Joe Thomasson after he made a basket from the post area.

Sotto no longer warmed up during the halftime break, staying on the bench for the rest of the match with an ice pack in his rib area.

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Sotto played for 11 minutes and finished with four points and two blocks after tallying 18 points and eight rebounds during their 89-80 win over Latvia.

Gilas though got some help from other players such as Carl Tamayo and other players in lieu of Sotto.

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

“They stepped in the void and gave us big minutes in what would have been Kai’s minutes.”