Sotto leads trio of Filipinos with U17 World Cup and U18 Asian experience
MANILA (Philippines) - Kai Sotto leads a trio of players on Philippines' squad for the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2019 who played last summer at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2018 and the FIBA U18 Asian Championship 2018.
The talented big man will actually be Philippines' youngest player, being the only one born in 2002. The 2001-born quartet of Gerry Abadiano, Shaun Chiu, Terrence Fortea and Carl Tamayo all joined forces with him at the U17 World Cup in Argentina while Abadiano and Chiu also played at the U18 continental championship.
| Philippines' roster for the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2019 | |||
| Gerry Abadiano | Rhayyan Amsali | Shaun Chiu | AJ Edu |
| Terrence Fortea | Sean Ildefonso | Miguel Oczon | Dalph Panopio |
| Kai Sotto | James Spencer | Carl Tamayo | Xryrus Torres |
Head coach Sandy Arespacochaga has named 11 players with international experience - including Sotto's big man partner AJ Edu from the U18 Asian Championship last summer. The only player who will be making his national team debut is James Spencer, a Filipino-Australian guard who had hoped to play for Philippines last summer at the U18 Asian tournament but he did not have the proper paperwork.
Philippines, who are back in the U19 World Cup for the first time in 40 years, have been drawn into Group C with hosts Greece, Argentina and Russia.
FIBA
