(UPDATE) IN the few times Kai Sotto was able to watch Gilas Pilipinas scrimmage twice and train, the youthful Filipino giant is very optimistic that the latest batch of players in the national team are up to the task for the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

For one, compared to the 2014 Gilas team that relied mostly on 'small ball' play, given the undersized roster that then included two-time Best Asian point guard Jayson Castro, Jimmy Alapag, LA Tenorio, along with wingmen Jeff Chan, Paul Lee and Gabe Norwood, this year's pool consists of taller players, who are versatile enough and can also shoot from the perimeter.