Kai Sotto gears up for B.League return after ACL rehab

Kai Sotto is inching closer to a full recovery from the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear that sidelined him for much of the year. The 7-foot-3 Gilas Pilipinas center has already resumed non-contact training, seven months after undergoing surgery on his left knee last January.

Over the weekend, Sotto was spotted in the Koshigaya Alphas’ training camp in Saitama, Japan, gradually rebuilding his rhythm in preparation for the 2025–2026 Japan B. League season that tips off in October.

 Clips shared on his social media showed him working on solo drills — a promising sign for fans eager to see him back in action for both the Alphas and the national team.

“Back for another year,” Sotto wrote on Instagram, alongside a photo of himself with the Alphas’ promotional display, signaling his intent to return stronger.

His absence in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, was a direct result of his focus on rehabilitation. “Nagre-rehab lang ako to make sure na mas malakas pa ako, para mas maayos pakiramdam ng tuhod ko kaysa sa previous days,” he explained. “It feels good, pero hindi pa siya perfect. So, hindi ko pwede madaliin ‘yung recovery ko.”

KAI-SHIGAYA 🔥

Filipino big man Kai Sotto shares the exciting news that he’s returning for another year with the Koshigaya Alphas in the Japan B.League, marking his comeback after suffering an ACL injury last January.#Bリーグ #bleague

📸 @kzsotto | IG Story pic.twitter.com/T7Vtn2ifCF

— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) August 17, 2025

The Alphas are eager to have him back, but the excitement is equally high for Gilas Pilipinas, which just finished seventh in the Asia Cup. 

Before his injury, Sotto turned in solid numbers for Koshigaya, averaging 13.8 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.0 steals, and 1.3 blocks in the B. League.

His return is expected to boost Gilas’ campaign as well, especially with the Asian qualifiers for the 2027 FIBA World Cup coming up in November. 

The Philippines has been drawn into a tough group alongside reigning Asia Cup champion Australia, perennial contender New Zealand, and Guam.

Sotto may soon find himself sharing the frontcourt with Quentin Millora-Brown, who was recently reclassified as a local player by FIBA. 

The 6-foot-10 big man, a former UP Fighting Maroon, has already caught the attention of coach Tim Cone, who has openly expressed his desire to integrate Millora-Brown into the Gilas lineup.

OKBET is Asia’s most trusted and popular online sports gaming platform. Visit us on OKBET to stay up to date with all sports news from around the world.