AI-generated image of Gilas Pilipinas center Kai Sotto in a basketball gym

AI-generated image

Kai Sotto is on the Gilas Pilipinas roster for the November World Cup qualifiers, and Bennie Boatwright is in line for his national team debut. At home, Adamson and UST tightened the UAAP playoff race, while Paul George took over a Celtics reunion in Philadelphia.

1. Kai Sotto makes the Gilas 12 as Boatwright nears his debut

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas named Sotto to the fifth window roster on Wednesday. That moves him from the expected return covered in our previous edition to a place on the announced team. FIBA also confirmed the return of Rhenz Abando and the inclusion of Boatwright as the naturalized player. The 12 are Sotto, Boatwright, Abando, AJ Edu, Juan Gomez de Liaño, Quentin Millora-Brown, Chris Newsome, CJ Perez, Mike Phillips, Kevin Quiambao, Dwight Ramos and Scottie Thompson. FIBA reports that Carl Tamayo is out with an ankle sprain and Justin Brownlee is still recovering from leg injuries. Gilas plays Syria on November 27 and Iran on November 29 in Seremban, Malaysia.


2. Ginebra’s break gives Cone two teams to prepare

Tim Cone told Quinito Henson of The Philippine Star that Gilas plans to leave for Malaysia on November 21. Assistant coach Richard del Rosario said there would be no Gilas practice in Manila because too few players were available locally. Cone said he would arrange a session with Ginebra to introduce Boatwright to the system if the forward arrives ahead of the other overseas players. That session is conditional. The schedule explains why it could matter: Cone goes from Gilas against Iran on November 29 to the start of the PBA semifinals on December 4, with Ginebra set to face TNT. For Gilas, the earlier Boatwright can get live repetitions in the offense, the fewer reads he has to learn once the qualifiers begin.

3. Adamson pulls level with Ateneo as UST stays in the race

Adamson beat Ateneo, 62 to 55, on Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum. Precious Jonah had 11 points, 17 rebounds and three blocks as the Falcons ended a run of four losses and drew level with Ateneo at five wins and seven losses. Earlier, UST beat UE, 97 to 70, to reach six wins and six losses. Amiel Acido scored 22, and Peter Osang had 19 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks in his UST debut. Ateneo’s earlier loss to UP helped settle one Final Four berth. This doubleheader tightened the fight for the remaining places, with UST one game ahead of both Adamson and Ateneo.

4. Paul George takes over the Celtics and Sixers reunion

Jaylen Brown’s first game against Boston since the offseason trade put the focus on his reunion with Jayson Tatum. Paul George, who moved the other way in that deal, decided the game. He scored 36 and made six threes in Boston’s 123 to 101 road win over Philadelphia. The Celtics’ official recap credited Payton Pritchard and George with all 14 points in the opening run of the fourth quarter. That stretch mattered more than the reunion matchup: Philadelphia was still within nine entering the period, and Boston found the scoring it needed without asking Tatum to create every possession.

Recent Results

  • UAAP, November 11: Adamson 62, Ateneo 55; UST 97, UE 70.
  • NBA, November 11 Philippine time: Boston 123, Philadelphia 101; New York 117, Milwaukee 85. Karl-Anthony Towns posted 21 points and 16 rebounds, his tenth double double in ten games.

Watchlist

  • Gilas camp: The announced roster is set. Boatwright’s first live practice with the group and Sotto’s workload are the next things to track.
  • PBA: Ginebra faces TNT and NLEX faces Converge in the semifinals. The league is on its international break, with the next round due to start December 4.

Important Games to Watch This Week

  • Thursday, November 12, 9 a.m.: Los Angeles Lakers at Milwaukee Bucks, Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee. NBA regular season. November 11 in Milwaukee.
  • Thursday, November 12, 10:30 a.m.: Golden State Warriors at Houston Rockets, Toyota Center, Houston. NBA regular season. November 11 in Houston.
  • Thursday, November 12, 6:05 p.m.: Yokohama B-Corsairs at Altiri Chiba, Chibagin Arena, Chiba. B.League Premier regular season and a chance to track Sotto’s club minutes before Gilas camp.
  • Saturday, November 14, 10:30 a.m.: Golden State Warriors at San Antonio Spurs, Frost Bank Center, San Antonio. NBA Cup West Group C. November 13 in San Antonio.
  • Sunday, November 15, 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m.: La Salle vs. Adamson, then Ateneo vs. UST, respectively, at Smart Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City. Both are listed UAAP men’s elimination games with Final Four implications.