Williams to Sotto: Defense is the key

Kai Sotto needs to improve his defense if he wants to get the long-awaited call from the National Basketball Association.

This was the belief of former NBA passing wizard Jason Williams, who attended a meet-and-greet session at the NBA Store Philippines in Pasig City yesterday.

Sotto, the 7-foot-3 center now playing for the Hiroshima Dragonflies in the Japan B. League, has to enhance his rim-protecting skills to get noticed, Williams, a one-time NBA champion, said.

‘I think many kids forget about blocking shots and playing defense.’

Though undrafted, Sotto, Williams said, “needs to play the game the right way, shoot pretty well and play defense and block shots.”

“I think many kids forget about blocking shots and playing defense.”

In his last outing for Hiroshima, Sotto fired eight points, grabbed four rebounds and also had four feeds and four blocks but the Dragonflies lost, 82-80, to the Nagoya Diamond Dolphins of Ray Parks.

Williams’ observations make a lot of sense since he played with elite big men like Vlade Divac, Shaquille O’Neal and Pau and Marc Gasol during his 13-year NBA career.

Apart from yesterday’s event, Williams will also attend the NBA 3X Philippines presented by Mountain Dew today and Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall.

Williams is happy seeing the league spread the love of basketball worldwide and hopes to return to the country if he gets another request to travel to the Philippines.

“I’m so appreciative that the NBA allows me to do trips like this and come hang out with you guys and watch some basketball. That makes it even better,” Williams said.

“Every time I get invited, I will be here. I promise.”

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF IRONMAN OFFICIALS of the organizing The IRONMAN Group/Sunrise Events Inc. and the sponsoring Alveo Land Corp. pose during yesterday’s medal presentation for the Alveo IRONMAN 70.3 Davao set Sunday at the Azuela Cove. Shown are (from second from left) SEI president and general manager Princess Galura, Alveo Land general manager for Estates Wilfredo Teodoro, Yeng Tupaz, vice president of Ayala Land and Senior Estate Development head, Davao artist and medal designer Kublai Millan, and IRONMAN managing director for Asia Jeff Edwards.

PHOTOGRAPH BY IVAN SUING FOR THE DAILY TRIBUNE JASON Williams believes that Kai Sotto has to improve his defensive skills if he wants to make it to the NBA.