Author: Monojit Mandal
Despite his quest for a spot in the NBA Summer League, Kai Sotto, the young Filipino basketball player who hopes to become the first Filipino born in the country in the NBA, is committed to boosting the Gilas Pilipinas national team in the 2017 FIBA World Cup.
Sotto stated that after his probable stay at the Summer League in the United States is over, he plans to focus on the World Cup. In his search for a position in the squad, the 6’10” forward recently took part in minicamps organized by the Utah Jazz and the Dallas Mavericks, and is scheduled to visit another minicamp, organized by the New York Knicks.
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According to Sotto, the Summer League schedule will not coincide with his World Cup obligations.“I think there will be time,” he said in an interview with PlayItRight TV. The Summer League will not interfere with the World Cup in terms of programming.” The Las Vegas Summer League will be held from July 7 to 17, allowing Sotto to take part in the national team’s training camp for more than five weeks before the World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia and will start on August 25.
Sotto, on the other hand, is expected to miss Gilas Pilipinas’ training camp in Europe, where the team will play friendlies against Finland, Estonia and Lithuania as part of their preparation. “For now, I’m concentrating on these mini-camps. I’m about to give it my all in the Summer League and do my best to make it to the NBA“, added Sotto.“After the Summer League, I’m quite focused on the World Cup.”
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Representing the Philippines in the global basketball extravaganza means a lot to Sotto. He understands the importance of the chance as the tallest player in the country’s 21-man World Cup squad. “As a 21-year-old basketball player, I think it will be the biggest opportunity, the biggest challenge and the highest level I will play at so far in my career,” said Sotto. “The best players in the world will be there.” Every time I think about it, I get goose bumps. I’m very happy.”
Although Sotto plans to make his NBA debut in the Summer League, he remains committed to his national team and hopes to represent the Philippines on the world stage at the FIBA World Cup.