Sotto: ‘I’ve been learning so much from coach Tim’
YOUNG Filipino big man Kai Sotto admitted his back-to-back double-double outputs last week in the Japan B.League served as a confidence-booster ahead of his scheduled stint with Gilas Pilipinas, which plays Hong Kong in the opening window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers 2025 this Thursday.
The 7-foot-3 Sotto banged in 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in Yokohama B-Corsairs’ 89-79 loss to the powerhouse Chiba Jets in their Japan B.League match last February 10.
But the following day, Sotto topped that output by firing 26 points and hauling down
11 boards as the B-Corsairs pulled the rug from under the Jets 90-85.
Sotto said he’s just happy to be able to strung up two big outputs after averaging 27 minutes in his last two games.
“I think so (the big games’ effect on his confidence). I’m happy I got to play more in my last two games. I know what I’m capable of doing, something I’ve set in my mind every time I play,” Sotto said on Friday before Gilas’ practice that was open to the public at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
The 21-year-old slotman said he’s bringing that experience into Gilas, while also soaking from coach Tim Cone’s system during the national squad’s just-ended four-day, closed-door training camp at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna.
“I’ve been learning so much from coach Tim, in fact, even my dad, he used to tell me stories of the time he played under him,” related Sotto.
Kai’s father Ervin, a seventh pick overall by Purefoods during the 2004 PBA Draft, played under Cone from 2008-2011 at Alaska.
Sotto said he’s been absorbing every lesson he could get since he saw action for Gilas in last year’s FIBA World Cup where Cone served as one of Chot Reyes’ assistant coaches.
“I’ve experienced that playing under him (during the World Cup) and I think all of us in such a short period of time, we already learned so many things that we will be applying in the coming games,” he added.
Sotto is expected to carry a big load on his shoulders at the slot with veteran big man June Mar Fajardo, along with AJ Edu due to injuries.
But the former Batang Gilas star said he’s just glad that many-time national player Japeth Aguilar will surely be a huge help after getting another call up.
“Big props for kuya for stepping in to that spot, next man up lang sa lahat ng players,” he said. “We’re missing two key players, the rest will have to step up and everybody is ready.”
After Hong Kong, Gilas heads back home and will take on Taiwan on Sunday at the PhilSports Arena.