Push Admin

Coach Brian Shaw unsure if Kai Sotto can return to G-League team

Article (news)

Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News 

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/news/12/16/g-league.jpg"/><figcaption>Coach Brian Shaw (R) instructs the players of Team Ignite, including Filipino center Kai Sotto. NBAE/Getty Images/NBA G League Ignite.</figcaption></figure></div><p><br/>MANILA, Philippines -- G League Ignite coach Brian Shaw supports Kai Sotto&#x27;s desire to play for the Philippine national basketball team, but he is unsure if the teenager will be able to return in time to play in their upcoming season.</p><p>Sotto announced last week that he is returning to the Philippines to play for Gilas Pilipinas in the third and final window of the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 qualifiers. The games were originally scheduled for February 17-22 in Clark, Pampanga, but the Philippines last Tuesday withdrew its hosting due to the travel ban imposed by the government.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/01/21/21/fiba-kai-sotto-heading-home-soon-will-play-for-gilas-in-february-window">READ: Kai Sotto &#x27;heading home soon,&#x27; will play for Gilas in February window</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/01/26/21/ph-withdraws-as-host-of-fiba-qualifying-window-due-to-travel-ban">READ: PH withdraws as host of FIBA qualifying window due to travel ban</a></li></ul><p>It now remains to be seen when and where the qualifiers will be held, but Sotto is still committed to playing for Gilas Pilipinas and has already exited Team Ignite&#x27;s bubble in Walnut Creek, California where he has been training.</p><p>&quot;One of the things (we said), before all these guys entered the program, was that we weren&#x27;t gonna hold anybody back,&quot; Shaw said in a conference call on Thursday morning, Manila time. &quot;We commend our players for wanting to represent their countries in that fashion.&quot;</p><p>Shaw pointed out that in late November, another one of their players, India&#x27;s Princepal Singh, also left in order to play for his national team in the second qualifying window. Singh has since returned to Team Ignite.</p><p>&quot;That was a decision that Kai and his team wanted, thought was important for him,&quot; Shaw said of playing for Gilas in the upcoming qualifiers. &quot;So we supported him going and being a part of that.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Unfortunately, a lot of it is during the time of when we&#x27;re gonna be in the bubble,&quot; the coach added.</p><p>Team Ignite is set to compete against 15 other G League teams in the 2021 season, which will take place at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.</p><p>The team, which features Filipino-American guard Jalen Green, makes its debut on February 10 against the Santa Cruz Warriors. Their schedule runs through March 6, with the playoffs set to start on March 8 and the final on March 11.</p><p>Because of the quarantine protocols and travel restrictions, Shaw is unsure if Sotto can make it back to the United States in time to rejoin Team Ignite, even for the final stretch of the season.</p><p>&quot;So, we just wish him the best. We worked with him up until the point that he left, and hopefully he&#x27;ll be able to go there and perform well,&quot; said Shaw.</p><p>&quot;Then, depending on the timing of everything, you know, especially because he&#x27;s traveling internationally, you know the quarantine times can be a lot longer,&quot; he added. &quot;We don&#x27;t know how that&#x27;s gonna play out, when it&#x27;s all said and done, in terms of him coming back and joining the team or not.&quot;</p><p>&quot;But we want him to do well in those competitions, and if the timing and everything comes back, we&#x27;ll see what happens then.&quot;</p><p>Sotto, 18, announced in May 2020 that he will skip college and play instead in the NBA G League for Team Ignite together with a slew of other high-profile prospects. Team Ignite players receive coaching both on and off the court, in preparation for their NBA careers.</p><p>Aside from Sotto, Green and Singh, also part of Ignite are Jonathan Kuminga, Daishen Nix, and Isaiah Todd. Former NBA players and G League veterans have also joined the squad to provide further mentorship to the younger players.</p><div><strong>Related video: </strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YwrB6oCmwCI?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>G League Ignite coach Brian Shaw supports Kai Sotto's desire to play for the Philippine national basketball team, but he is unsure if the teenager will be able to return in time to play in their upcoming season.</p>

G League Ignite coach Brian Shaw supports Kai Sotto's desire to play for the Philippine national basketball team, but he is unsure if the teenager will be able to return in time to play in their upcoming season.

Coach Brian Shaw unsure if Kai Sotto can return to G-League team

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

Sports

Coach Brian Shaw unsure if Kai Sotto can return to G-League team

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 28, 2021 01:38 PM PHT

Read More:

NBA

NBA G League

Kai Sotto

Brian Shaw

Team Ignite

G League Ignite

Gilas Pilipinas

FIBA Asia Cup 2021 qualifiers

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas

SBP

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.