When Kai Sotto made his high-profile move to Altiri Chiba ahead of the 2026–27 Japan B.League Premier season, the expectations were sky-high. The 7-foot-3 Gilas Pilipinas center was brought in to anchor the interior defense, control the glass, and give Chiba a legitimate rim-protecting threat against Japan's top clubs.
Through his first four fixtures, Sotto looked every bit the dominant force Chiba envisioned, posting robust averages of 12.0 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per contest. His last on-court appearance on Friday, October 9, was arguably his sharpest yet: an 18-point, 12-rebound, 5-assist clinic that powered Chiba to a thrilling 97–90 victory over Osaka Evessa at Chibagi Arena.
Yet, over the last two weeks, box scores have featured a puzzling sight for Filipino basketball fans: Kai Sotto listed under "DNP" (Did Not Play).
With four straight games missed and Chiba dropping three of those four matches, the question reverberating across Philippine hoops circles is simple: Why is Kai Sotto not playing?
The Four-Game Absence
Sotto has now sat out four consecutive regular season games for Altiri Chiba:
October 11: vs. Toyama Grouses (L, 74–94)
October 17: vs. Hiroshima Dragonflies (L, 71–89)
October 19: vs. Nagasaki Velca (W, 82–65)
October 21: vs. Ryukyu Golden Kings (L, 65–94)
The absence was felt most acutely in the blowout loss against powerhouse Ryukyu, where Chiba struggled to contain the paint without Sotto’s vertical spacing and rim protection.
The Real Culprit: Ankle Swelling and High-Caution Protocol
The reason behind Sotto’s prolonged stay on the bench is not a catastrophic injury, but rather an acute lower-extremity tweak followed by an ultra-conservative medical approach
The Post-Osaka Ankle Tweak:
Following his heavy 27-minute workload against Osaka on October 9, Sotto reported discomfort and minor swelling in his ankle
. While initial X-rays and assessments cleared him of structural damage, the training staff immediately placed him on day-to-day status for precautionary rest . Lessons from Past Lower-Body Setbacks:
Having previously navigated a grueling rehabilitation timeline for a severe knee/ACL injury earlier in his B.League career, both Sotto’s camp and head coach Andrej Lemanis are taking zero chances with lower-body ailments. For a 7-foot-3 center, minor ankle instability creates unnatural compensatory pressure on the knees and hips. Rushing back for early October fixtures—especially during grueling midweek road stretches—simply carries too much downside.
Chiba's Long-Game Mentality:
Altiri Chiba views Sotto as their foundational centerpiece for a 60-game campaign. Rather than playing him at 75% mobility or risking a re-aggravation in back-to-back slates, the club opted to hold him out until he completes full-contact five-on-five scrimmages without swelling.
What’s Next?
Sotto has resumed light individual conditioning and shooting drills in practice, signaling that his return to the active lineup is imminent.
Altiri Chiba's next scheduled test comes on Saturday, October 24 against the Shinshu Brave Warriors. Whether the coaching staff clears him for limited minutes this weekend or waits for their homestand next week, one thing is certain: Chiba’s front office would rather sacrifice an October road game than jeopardize the health of their franchise anchor.