Despite the Philippines will once again host the third window in Clark, Pampanga, things are now being worked out for Sotto’s return to the US.

“Right now, the plan is to have him go back… Nag-pull out na siya sa bubble. He has to continue his quarantine in his residence,” said Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) director for operations Butch Antonio in an interview on Noli Eala’s Power and Play radio show

The SBP is currently working with Sotto’s group to arrange his departure in the hopes that he could still join Team Ignite as the team already started their G-League campaign without him.

“We’re working with him and his group in the US to make sure that there is time for him to join his team at makasali siya sa team niya na Ignite. Hopefully by next week, maayos na iyon.”

Sotto arrived in the Philippines on February 2 to join Gilas Pilipinas in their bid for a world cup slot.

Unfortunately, the final window of the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers, which was supposed to take place in Doha, was cancelled due to the spike of COVID-19 cases in Qatar.

Sotto made the decision to pull out of the bubble despite FIBA’s announcement that the Philippines will once again host the qualifiers.

Antonio has nothing but praise for the young cager for his commitment to the National Team.

“We have to remember that even before all of these things happened, when he was planning to join the NBA and when he planned his foreign trip, wherever he was, lalo na nung na-sure niya na pupunta siya ng Amerika, he made it clear that every time, basta kailangan siya ng ating bayan, ‘di niya tatanggihan at di niya tatalikuran ang kanyang obligasyon para i-represent ang ating bayan,” he said.

“Natuloy yung Doha o hindi, he’s here and he made sure na yung kanyang promise, tinutupad niya.”