Gilas unleashing twin tower

MANILA, Philippines — Seven-foot-three Kai Sotto has been cleared to see action for Gilas Pilipinas, making way for the twin tower combo with June Mar Fajardo that excites coach Tim Cone.

Sotto, according to team manager Richard del Rosario is “good to go” for the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers games against New Zealand (Thursday) and Hong Kong (Sunday) after completing concussion protocols.

The big man was placed under concussion protocols by the Japan B League after being hit on the head during the Koshigaya Alphas’ 80-72 win over Yokohama last week.

However, 6-foot-10 AJ Edu remains doubtful as he continues to undergo strength training and treatment for the right knee that he hurt recently in the Nagasaki Velca’s 71-68 defeat to the Akita Northern Happinets.

Sotto’s presence is a big boost for Gilas as the Tall Blacks are coming in with a seven-footer and a couple of 6-foot-10 bigs in tow.

“They bring in a lot more size than they have in the past,” Cone said of New Zealand.

Cone, meanwhile, is thrilled to have both Fajardo and Sotto in the fold now.

“The nice thing is that Kai and June Mar are developing a chemistry in which they can play together. And that’s really unusual to get two five (center) men and allow them to play together,” he noted.

He credited this to Sotto’s “versatility and his character in terms of ‘I’m comfortable with the five but I will go play the four and be uncomfortable so that June Mar can stay at the five.’”

“So it’s a really good rotation. We have the two of them that can play together. And then when June Mar rests, Kai can swing to the five. And when June Mar comes back, Kai can swing back to the four. And so we have a constant.

“And that was what was missing when we played (and lost to) Brazil in the semifinals of the OQT (Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Latvia) when Kai got injured. We didn’t have that ability to do that. It was a tough road for June Mar. Kai’s presence makes it a lot easier (now),” he added.