G League or Gilas? Kai’s trainer says Ignite offers ‘better competition’ for Sotto

Brian Shaw acknowledged that he would have no problem with Kai Sotto joining Gilas Pilipinas, but when it comes to developing Sotto’s career, Shaw said the G League offers better competition.

Sotto has said he was committed to playing for the Philippines men’s national basketball team, and Gilas officials hope that means he will be available for the 2021 FIBA ​​Asian Cup qualifiers in February.

Shaw, Sotto’s coach at Team Ignite in the NBA development league, said he had not been informed firsthand of Sotto’s decision.

“That’s new to me. I haven’t heard it yet,” Shaw said after Team Ignite’s game against the G League veterans on Thursday (US time).

Shaw said it would be “nice if he wants to play and represent his country and try to help them qualify for the next international events.”

“As much basketball as Kai is going to play will benefit him,” added the three-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Assuming Sotto prepares for Gilas in his next tournament, the problem lies with the schedule, as the Asian Cup and G League knockout schedules overlap.

For Shaw, staying with Ignite made more sense.

“I still believe that the competition that will play here in the bubble will be better competition than the one that will play there,” he said.

“That is the decision that he will make and with which we will have to live.”

Sotto, 18, is a veteran of FIBA ​​youth tournaments, having represented the country both on a continental and global level. However, he has not yet made his debut with the men’s team.

“I’m looking forward to getting back to my former teammates and the PBA players that I used to idolize,” Sotto said in a previous report.

“Together with them, I hope that we will do our best and bring glory to our country.”

It was unclear whether Sotto will play for the Philippines in the February 2021 window of the 2021 FIBA ​​Asia Cup qualifiers, to be held in a bubble in Clark, Pampanga.

But Tab Baldwin, program director for Gilas Pilipinas, said the team is hopeful that will be the case.

“You heard Kai, he said he will be available,” Baldwin said. “Obviously, this is the first step. We like to think that we are convinced that he will be there in February, but there are still ongoing discussions.”