Inamin ni Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes na maari silang magpasok ng isa pang naturalized player kung hindi makakasama si Kai Sotto sa main draw ng 2023 FIBA World Cup.

Kulang na kulang sa height ang Gilas nang matapat sa mas malalaking Jordanians sa pinakahuling window ng FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers nitong Lunes.

Ramdam tuloy ng coach ang hindi pagsipot ni Sotto sa qualifiers. Hindi nakapunta ang 7-foot-2 basketball star sa Pilipinas dahil kakapirma lang nito sa Japan B.League.

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"We have another naturalized player, right? We have Ange Kouame, and we're not ruling out the possibility of even going out and looking for another 6-10, 6-11 guy," ani Reyes matapos ang kanilang nakakaunsyaming 91-90 setback kontra Jordan.

“With all the uncertainty regarding the Kai Sotto situation, if he’s not going to make himself available, we have to think about that as well. That’s all part of the planning that’s on our plate right now,” dagdag pa ng beteranong court tactician.

Kakailanganin aniya ng katuwang ni Justin Brownlee kapag naharap sila sa mas mabibigat na koponan sa FIBA World Cup.

Sinabi pa niyang kailangan nila ng mahabang preparasyon para sa main draw ng FIBA World Cup na magsisimula sa Agosto.

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Dahil dito, hindi pupuwede ang mga player na sisipot lang sa practice ilang linggo bago ang torneo.

"You can’t just come and show up and be on the team, right? Doesn’t matter who you are. You have to be able to be part of the preparation," sabi ni Reyes.

"It’s not just being available two weeks before or all that. It’s not going to happen. The plan is we are going to be out June to middle of July. We have to put in the preparation time,” dagdag pa niya.

Samantala, sinabi rin ni Reyes na hindi pa rin sila nawawalan ng pag-asa na maaring makapaglaro ang Filipino-American guard na si Jordan Clarkson bilang isang local player para sa Gilas. Subalit isang malaking milagro kung ito ay mangyayari, dagdag ng coach.

Dati nang nasabi ng FIBA na maari lamang makalaro si Clarkson para sa Pilipinas bilang naturalized player.

"I believe in miracles, but they've already said categorically, no. But we're still trying. If there's a miracle, that will be the best situation for us, right?" ani Reyes.

"But for now, we're planning as if it's a no, because right now, it's a no. So we have to plan accordingly."