AJ Edu and Kai Sotto go way back—and now, they’re finally reunited.

The two first joined forces eight years ago at the 2018 FIBA U18 Asian Championship, where they helped the Philippines secure its first U19 World Cup appearance since 1979.

From there, Edu and Sotto developed into a formidable frontcourt duo for Gilas Pilipinas, only for their partnership to be repeatedly put on hold in recent years as injuries kept them off the court.

“It’s been a while; I think the last time was the World Cup when we were together. That’s three years ago now,” said Edu.

Since 2023, both big men have had opportunities to share the court for the national team, but untimely injuries kept them sidelined.

During the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers in 2024, Edu missed the second window after suffering a knee injury in November, while Sotto was sidelined for the remainder of the tournament after suffering a ruptured ACL in January.

Now, with both B.League big men healthy and back in the national team fold, their reunion could not have come at a more crucial time.

With their World Cup hopes on the line, the Philippines will need all the help it can get.

Edu has averaged 5.7 points and seven rebounds through six games in the qualifiers, while Sotto brings a proven international presence after averaging 15.5 points and 12.5 rebounds during his last national team stint in 2024.

With both finally healthy and back together in Gilas colors, Edu could not hide his excitement about sharing the court with his longtime frontcourt partner once again.

“We’ve overcome our injuries and are healthy now. I’m definitely excited to share the court with Kai again,” added Edu.

And apparently, Edu had already said everything Sotto wanted to say.

“Nasabi niya lahat ng gusto kong sabihin, eh,” quipped Sotto.

The post After years of injuries, AJ Edu, Kai Sotto reunite in Gilas colors appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.

Three young Ugandan basketball players have moved a step closer to possible opportunities abroad after catching the eye of scouts at the SYSTM Elite Camp Uganda.

The camp was held at Lugogo Indoor Stadium on Wednesday. Junior Silverbacks players Evans Shyaka and Pierre Laurent Rwuhiriro were selected alongside HBAcademy and Emma High School prospect Orom Khor.

The three were picked from a group of players assessed by Los Angeles-based basketball management and development company SYSTM Sports.

SYSTM is looking to create pathways for promising young players to access basketball and educational opportunities in the United States, Canada and other international markets.

For Shyaka and Rwuhiriro, the selection builds on performances they have already delivered for Uganda on the continental stage. At the 2025 FIBA U16 AfroBasket in Rwanda, Shyaka averaged 11.2 points per game.

Rwuhiriro was one of Uganda’s strongest inside players, averaging eight points, 10.8 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game.

His 10.8 rebounds were the best return by a Ugandan player at the tournament, while Shyaka finished among the Junior Silverbacks’ leading scorers. Uganda eventually finished fifth after defeating Tunisia 66-55 in the fifth-place playoff.

The Junior Silverbacks had narrowly missed out on the semifinals after losing 53-50 to Cameroon in the quarterfinals.

Those performances help explain why international talent identification programmes are beginning to take a closer interest in Uganda’s emerging players.

Khor’s selection also highlights another important route. Unlike Shyaka and Rwuhiriro, his profile has been built largely through school and academy basketball.

He is attached to Henrison Basketball Academy (HBA) and Emma High School, and his emergence shows that opportunities are not limited to players already established in the national-team system.

For all three players, however, selection at Lugogo is only the beginning. The objective is to expose identified prospects to schools, colleges and development programmes overseas.

Selection from the camp does not automatically guarantee a scholarship or placement. The camp was conducted by SYSTM Sports in partnership with the Federation of Uganda Basketball Associations.

It also brought in coaches, schools and academies already involved in developing players locally.

SYSTM Sports founder Dimitrios Seymour has worked in basketball representation for more than a decade. He is listed by the National Basketball Players Association as a certified agent with SYSTM Sports in Los Angeles.

His experience stretches across the NBA, G League, college basketball and international markets.

SYSTM’s work in Africa has also increasingly focused on identifying young players who could eventually access opportunities abroad.

The Uganda initiative has been coordinated by SYSTM Sports partner Duncan Mutembani, who has worked with FUBA and members of the local basketball community to organise the programme.

Coaches Consio, Henry Malinga, Henrison Mbaziira and Albert Aciko have also been involved in player identification and preparation.

Academies including HBA have contributed to the process. For Ugandan basketball, the significance of the camp will ultimately depend on what happens after the selections.

Uganda is increasingly producing competitive junior national teams and promising school players. The bigger challenge is turning that talent into sustained basketball and educational opportunities beyond the country.

International exposure can give young players access to stronger competition, specialised coaching and better development environments.

It can also open the door to education through high school and university scholarship programmes.

The SYSTM Elite Camp therefore offers another potential bridge between the talent being developed in Uganda and opportunities elsewhere.

For Khor, Shyaka and Rwuhiriro, Wednesday’s selection has put them on that bridge; the next question is how far it can take them.

The post Ugandan trio catch SYSTM eye as international pathway opens up appeared first on Kawowo Sports.

Nearly two years after his last appearance for Gilas Pilipinas, Kai Sotto is finally back — and he returns at a crucial juncture for the national team in the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers.

Sotto last played for the Philippines in the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers, averaging 15.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks across four games as Gilas went undefeated. His final stint included the Philippines’ historic upset of New Zealand, where the 7-foot-3 big man anchored the frontcourt with 19 points and 10 rebounds.

Just as Sotto’s role with the national team appeared to be taking shape, however, he suffered a torn ACL in his left knee in early 2025. The injury sidelined him for an extended period and kept him away from Gilas duties — until now.

“Nasaktuhan lang din na fully healthy ako. Kaya lang naman ako ‘di nakapaglaro noong previous years kasi na-injure ako, and sakto offseason ngayon and wala akong ginagawa,” Sotto said.

With Justin Brownlee sidelined by an injury of his own, Sotto is expected to become a centerpiece on both ends of the floor. And despite the pressure that comes with his return, he insists he is more than ready to help the Philippines in its bid to advance to the World Cup.

The circumstances surrounding Gilas’ upcoming window make Sotto’s comeback even more significant, as he prepares to don the national team colors for the first time since 2024.

“Kinausap ako ni Coach Tim at ng management. Nalaman ko rin na babalik si CJ [Perez], na last window na ni Kuya June [Mar Fajardo], so nagkatagpo-tagpo na rin. So swerte lang na magkakasama kami ngayon para harapin ang opportunity na ‘to,” he added.

Sotto’s time away from the court, however, was far from uneventful.

Away from basketball, he reached some of the biggest personal milestones of his life. He married Rere Madrid earlier in May, and the couple is now expecting their first child.

That has given his return to the national team an even deeper meaning, with Sotto dedicating this stint to his growing family.

“Siyempre, sobrang inspiring nga na may parating na baby, and siguro mas seryoso pa na gusto kong makuha ‘tong next na dalawang panalo para sa baby ko na parating and para sa asawa ko and para sa bansa. Mas motivated ako na maglaro ngayon at manalo para sa bansa natin.”

Throughout his journey back, Sotto has also repeatedly pointed to one person whose belief in him never wavered: Tim Cone.

“Napagpapasalamat ako kay Coach Tim na malaki ‘yung tiwala niya sa akin and sobrang grateful ako na maging coach ko siya,” Sotto shared.

The connection between the two, however, goes back much further than Sotto’s own Gilas career. He grew up watching his father practice under Cone during the coach’s days with the Alaska Aces, long before Sotto himself would eventually suit up for the national team under the same coach.

Now that Sotto is finally healthy again, Cone has wasted little time making clear how much he expects from his prized big man.

“He’s brought all of his talent, all of his size; we’re trying to build around him. He hasn’t been with us for a couple of years, so guys are still adjusting to his level of play. But we think he’s gonna make everyone around him better,” Cone said.

“We’re just really happy to have him.”

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