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NBA prospect Kai Sotto arrived in the country on Tuesday night as he tries to help the men’s national basketball team Gilas Pilipinas on their stage in the third and final leg of the 2021 FIBA Asian Cup qualifiers in Doha, Qatar. , next month.
Along with his father, former PBA player Ervin Sotto, the 7-foot-3 arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 10 p.m. and will begin serving his five-day quarantine period before he can join the Gilas for their training on the Inspire. Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna.
This is the first time Sotto has been at home since he decided to bring his talents to the United States to train in hopes of becoming the first full-blooded Filipino to reach the NBA.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) president Al Panlilio acknowledged that Sotto is indeed the future of Philippine basketball, but still acknowledges the fact that the latter is still 18 years old.
“He will be a great addition. He sure has improved a lot. But he’s only 18 years old. We can’t push him too hard,” Panlilio said during his appearance at the Philippine Sports Writers Association (PSA) Forum.
“It is the future of Philippine basketball, sure, but it is also developing as a player as a person,” he added.
Gilas has three upcoming games in the playoffs, two of which will be against longtime rivals South Korea. The other match will be against Indonesia. The Gilas only need one more win to reserve their spot in the FIBA Asia Cup tournament this August in Jakarta, Indonesia. (JNP)
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