Kai Sotto suffers torn ACL in Japan B.League

Metro Manila, Philippines — Kai Sotto will be out for a significant time after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in the Koshigaya Alphas' match against the SeaHorses Mikawa last weekend.

Sotto's team, Koshigaya Alphas, confirmed the unfortunate development on its website Wednesday.

“The worst way to start the year, might be the darkest day of my basketball career, when I was told I tore my ACL,” Sotto wrote on his Instagram account.

The 7-foot-3 Sotto had the injury at the 6:20 mark of the first quarter, where he buckled his left knee while doing a post up move a couple of feet away from the basket.

Sotto has been playing well for Koshigaya as he averages 13.8 points on 52.8 percent shooting from the field, 9.6 rebounds, and two assists in his first year with the squad.

Sotto is expected to be sidelined for at least six months which means he will miss the February window of the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers where the Philippines will battle Chinese Taipei and New Zealand, and the FIBA Asia Cup in Saudi Arabia in August.