Japan B. League players are about to arrive, Gilas Pilipinas is waiting for Kai Sotto

Japan B. League mainstays Kiefer Ravena and Thirdy Ravena, Dwight Ramos and Ray Parks will strengthen Gilas Pilipinas for the fifth window of the FIBA ​​Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers

ANTIPOLO, Philippines — Gilas Pilipinas will soon welcome many of its stalwarts who play in the Japan B. League.

Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena, Dwight Ramos and Ray Parks are set to arrive in the country on November 1-2 as they strengthen the national team for the fifth window of the FIBA ​​Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers in November.

The four B. League stalwarts will have the chance to be with Gilas Pilipinas for more than a week before his two away games against Jordan on November 10 and Saudi Arabia on November 13.

Head coach Chot Reyes, however, said in an earlier interview that the national team won’t be complete until they arrive in Jordan waiting for Kai Sotto.

“We have a three-day period, October 31, November 1 and 2, where all PBA players can come to practice, but Japanese players will not be there. And definitely Kai,” Reyes told the power and play program hosted by Noli Eala, Chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission.

Sotto remains in Australia while playing for the Adelaide 36ers in the National Basketball League.

The 7-foot-3 big man and the 36ers have one more game to play on Nov. 5 before the NBL pauses for the fifth window.

“We won’t make any announcement on Kai until we get his Jordanian visa as well,” Reyes said.

“After that, he will fly directly to Jordan. He won’t come here anymore,” Reyes added. “We are looking at three full days of training on November 7, 8 and 9 where we can finally train as a full squad for the November 10 game against Jordan.”

Despite the short preparation time, Reyes said Sotto and the B League stars will have no problem adjusting to the squad.

“The guys from Japan, they already know a lot of the things we do. Kai already knows a lot of the things we do,” Reyes said.

“Hopefully these three days will be enough for us to prepare as well as possible for Jordan.”

Gilas Pilipinas is tied at 3-3. – Rappler.com