Kai looks forward to Asian Cup, OQT
Kai Sotto is glad that he had plenty of support during a difficult period that eventually led to his exit from the NBA G-League’s developmental team last February.
The 7-foot-3 suffered a big roadblock in his NBA dream two months ago when he parted ways with the G-League Ignite in the aftermath of his decision to join Gilas Pilipinas for the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers that was eventually postponed.
Sotto admitted during a roundtable interview recently that while the situation was “a little bit tough,” he was able to overcome it with help from family members and close friends.
“Sobrang happy ako na yung group of people around sa akin is tinutulungan pa talaga ko na mag-stay lang sa path ko, na mag-focus pa rin kasi kung ibang player yan, ibang tao yan baka mag give-up na sila sa sobrang dami ng mga challenges at mga problema,” Sotto said during the virtual event.
“Nag-continue lang akong magwork at minotivate ko lang sarili ko kaya mas nag-improve pa ako, lalo na ngayon dahil sa mga past na pinagdaanan ko .”
The 18-year-old credits his mother Pamela the most for helping him deal with the post-G-League stint that eventually led to Sotto’s signing with the Adelaide 36ers of Australia’s National Basketball League.
“Mas naging vocal siya.” Sotto said. “Yung dad ko (Ervin Sotto) maasahan mo na may sasabihin sa akin yan, pero yung nanay ko nagbigay ng lakas sa akin na parang stay strong lang at dumarating lahat yan sa buhay ng tao.”
Sotto was supposed to play for the Ignite in the G-League bubble in Florida until an arrangement was made for him to play for Gilas in the supposed February qualifiers.
But the Asian Qualifiers was later postponed after COVID-19 cases in Doha increased that month. Sotto eventually returned to the United States where a “mutual agreement” was made for him and the Ignite to part ways.
Sotto, however, didn’t leave the Ignite without some realizations.
“My biggest takeaway is just to learn the environment of being a professional at a young age,” he said. “I didn’t expect that I would learn a lot of things not only on the basketball court but outside of the basketball court.”
Sotto, meanwhile, confirmed that he will play for Gilas PIlipinas in the FIBA Asia Cup and the Olympic Qualifying Tournament later this year.
“I’m very excited to be joining the Gilas Pilipinas national team that will be playing this OQT and FIBA Asia Cup,” Sotto said in a virtual roundtable discussion with media members.