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For Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior reporter
Young FILIPINO prospect Kai Sotto will not be rejoining the Ignite team in the G League of the National Basketball Association (NBA), but the league wishes the player the best in his continued pursuit of his NBA dreams.
In an announcement made late Tuesday night (Manila time), the G League said Ignite and Sotto, 18, had made a “mutual decision” that the latter will not join the team in the ” Bubble “of the league tournament in Orlando, Florida, abruptly ends what was once considered a promising partnership.
“Kai and the team understood the challenges for him to rejoin Ignite given current international travel limitations, quarantine times, and health and safety protocols,” said NBA G League President Shareef Abdur-Rahim. , it’s a statement.
The G League director, however, said they appreciate Sotto’s time with the team and want nothing but the best for him in the future.
“Kai will always be a part of the extended Ignite family and we wish him continued success as he pursues his NBA dreams,” said Abdur-Rahim.
Ignite included prominent Ateneo High School Sotto in its elite prospect team last year to compete in the G League tournament.
The team was looking to develop young players in its group through a program that would hopefully prepare them for the NBA Draft and provide them with professional life skills that they could use on and off the court.
Sotto, who went to the United States in 2019 to begin his NBA quest, was joined by top US high school prospects Jalen Green, Jonathan Kuminga, Daishen Nix, Isaiah Todd and the Academy graduate. NBA Global Princepal Singh on Ignite, also getting a boost. by NBA and G League veterans.
They were training with NBA champion coach Brian Shaw and Mister. Sotto was reportedly making progress with the coach, even expressing enthusiasm for teaching him and seeing the Filipino grow as a basketball player.
However, in a surprise move last month, Mister. Sotto said he was returning home to join Gilas Pilipinas’ bid in the third and final window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers to be held here.
The decision came at a crucial time when Ignite was preparing for its campaign in the G League bubble set for February.
Ignite, however, supported his decision and allowed him to travel back to the Philippines and represent the country.
But the measure turned out to be futile, as days after his arrival, the qualifying window established for this month was canceled due to increased restrictions on the coronavirus pandemic.
Sotto’s local basketball federation and controllers were quick to send him back to the US to rejoin Ignite, but it turned out to be too late due to existing requirements.
As of this writing, there is still no word from Mr. Sotto’s camp about his next move or what led him to leave Ignite in the middle of the team’s preparations in the first place.
Ignite is currently doing well in the G League tournament, sporting a 5-3 record, good for a joint fifth place in the 18-team field.
SBP DECLARATION
Meanwhile, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) issued a statement following Sotto’s departure from NBA G League Ignite, saying it will support him in his pursuit of the NBA.
“Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas will always be 100% behind Kai Sotto as he pursues his NBA dream,” SBP said in the statement issued Wednesday.
“When Kai announced via social media that he wanted to come home to play for Gilas Pilipinas Men, we welcomed him with open arms because he will always have a home with us at SBP. The same is true for any Filipino basketball player pursuing his dreams on the international stage. Whatever happens in their respective paths, they can always be sure that the SBP will be there to provide them with a stage where they can perform for their Filipino fans, ”he added.
The SBP further said that it is saddened by the development but believes that Sotto will overcome the setback.
“Even at his young age, Kai has shown incredible courage and determination to pursue his dreams and we have every confidence that he will make us proud.”
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