John Franklin Kennedy Caacbay

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<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:959px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1752299014777aj edu.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Nagasaki Velca&#x27;s AJ Edu. <em>Japan B.League/file</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA, Philippines – AJ Edu is ready for a heavier load with Gilas Pilipinas as Kai Sotto continues to recover from a knee injury.</p><p>Sotto tore his anterior cruciate ligament in January this year during a Koshigaya Alphas&#x27; game in the Japan B.League and eventually underwent surgery.</p><p>Edu, with Sotto out for the upcoming 2025 FIBA Asia Cup in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, expressed his readiness to be the next man up.</p><p>However, he also pointed out that it will take the whole team to make up for the absence of a player, with Sotto being an especially &quot;tough loss&quot; for Gilas.</p><p>&quot;With Kai out, that&#x27;s a tough loss for us, and I&#x27;m really hoping that he can come back soon,&quot; said Edu.</p><p>&quot;[We&#x27;re] constantly in communication with him about his recovery. But yeah, definitely, not just me, but all of us as a team have to step up when one of the star players is out,&quot; he added.</p><p>&quot;But yeah, for sure, on my end, I have to step up as well.&quot;</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/7/10/gilas-coach-concerned-over-injury-woes-ahead-of-fiba-asia-cup-2145"><strong>READ: Gilas coach concerned over injury woes ahead of FIBA Asia Cup<br/></strong></a></div><p>Edu said he&#x27;s trying to reach peak form following the conclusion of the Japan B.League months ago.</p><p>&quot;It&#x27;s been off-season for a couple of months now, so yeah, just trying to get back in 100% game shape, getting ready for this upcoming tournament,&quot; he said.</p><p>The 25-year-old expressed pride in donning the national tri-colors once more.</p><p>&quot;It&#x27;s always such a blessing and such an honor to represent the national team, and I don&#x27;t take it for granted.&quot;</p><p>The Philippines is grouped with Chinese Taipei, New Zealand, and Iraq in Group D at the Asia Cup.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAFz8gWM8iRADsJr&amp;cid=ABcJqDlG6lAj3IO7"></script>

<p>AJ Edu also expressed pride in donning the national tri-colors once more.</p>

AJ Edu ready to step up as Gilas deals with injury woes

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AJ Edu ready to step up as Gilas deals with injury woes

Kennedy Caacbay,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 12, 2025 02:23 PM PHT

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