




CHICAGO — In barely 24 hours, a qualifying window will open for the 2027 FIBA World Cup.
But for two Gilas Pilipinas players, a door will also close.
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is set to officially announce the Final 12 roster today, ahead of tomorrow’s game against Jordan.
According to an informant, Justin Arana is one of the two players who did not make the cut.
“Dumating si Kai (Sotto),” a person with knowledge of the situation said.
It’s easy to understand why Arana was reportedly bumped.
While both centers weigh around 232 pounds, Sotto is a towering 7-foot-3 compared to the 6-foot-7 Arana.
Sotto, 24, is also vastly more experienced in international play than the 27-year-old Converge pivot.
While Arana may have missed out on the FIBA qualifiers, he could still get another chance to represent the flag and is reportedly a shoo-in for the Asian Games squad.
The post COLUMN: Arana out of Gilas Final 12 for crucial FIBA window first appeared on Fastbreak.


