Pinoys with Kai in chase of NBA dream

MANILA, Philippines — Kai Sotto enjoys the backing of an entire nation as he takes the big leap in pursuit of his NBA dream.

The 7-foot-3 Sotto has declared for the 2022 NBA Draft and his announcement was readily welcomed and supported by countrymen who are just as excited of his prospects in basketball’s biggest stage.

“This is his dream and his plan all along. I’m confident he’ll get drafted and play in the NBA and this will augur well for Philippine basketball,” Gilas Pilipinas and TNT Tropang Giga coach Chot Reyes told The STAR.

“As a basketball-loving country, it has always been a dream for Filipinos to see a homegrown player set foot on the NBA hard court. Today, we have come closer to realizing this as Kai aims to show the world what Filipino basketball players are made of: talent, skill determination and above all, puso,” said PLDT and Smart president and CEO Al Panlilio, who is also chief of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP).

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said Asia’s first play-for-pay league is thrilled to see the 19-year-old Sotto strut his stuff with the great ball players of the world soon.

“Malaking karangalan sa Philippine basketball na makasali si Kai sa draft. Kasama kami sa mga nagdadasal na makuha siya. Kahit anong team siya mapunta, malaking impact ito sa atin,” he said.

The 19-year-old Sotto, who made his debut for the Gilas men’s team in the third window of FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers last June, primed up for his NBA bid with a stint in the NBL in Australia. He turned in averages of 7.6 points on a 51-percent clip, 4.5 rebounds and 0.7 block in 15.2 minutes of action in 23 games with the Adelaide 36ers.

“He’s worked really hard. He had a good season in Adelaide and that was a good place for him to be, I believe. A lot of talented big men in that league and he held his own,” said Ateneo mentor Tab Baldwin, who coached Sotto in three games with Gilas.

But Sotto’s name is not yet included in the Top 60 mock draft of major sports outlets like the USA Today, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher Report, CBS and NBC Sports.

He is 99th in the ESPN projected rankings but still way beyond the Top 60 that is usually the gauge for prospects in a regular two-round proceedings.

Sotto is hoping to join Fil-Ams Jordan Clarkson of Utah and Jalen Green of Houston in carrying the Philippine flag in the NBA. – John Bryan Ulanday