Kai Sotto swears he is looking forward to playing for flag and country in the FIBA World Cup but could only do so after his stints in the National Basketball Association Summer League.
The 7-foot-2 Sotto has just wound up working out with the New York Knicks and the Utah Jazz and is in the hunt for a team that will allow him to showcase his wares in the Summer League.
“NBA Summer League is going to be competitive. A lot of NBA rookies will be there. A lot of guys like me who wants to have a spot in an NBA team. Everybody has the same goal, same dream. It’s going to be fun as well and I can’t wait to get on a team in the Summer League and show what I can do,” said Sotto during the Power and Play program of Noli Eala.
Tony Rozone, who serves as the Filipino big man’s agent, believes the coming months would only make Sotto a much better player.
“Look, what Kai is doing right now. Every morning, he’s in the gym, with our trainers. He’s working on his game, learning to become a better player. He’s getting constant education on how to become a better player. He’s working on his body,” Rozone said.
“He’s training and he has played probably much among any player in the world the last year, so that moving forward is pretty exciting for the Philippines. I have Kai Sotto who has played 60 games coming to the Summer and ready to go. He’s going to be in great condition and we’re just trying to get Kai better.”
But for Sotto to suit up once again for Gilas Pilipinas, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas has to reach out since the players claims that there has been no formal communications taking place at the moment.
“I haven’t spoken to anybody. Tony would speak to them (Gilas). Obviously, FIBA World Cup is a big opportunity for me as a player, so why would a guy like me want to miss that? Every chance I get to represent my country, is a blessing. It’s two months from now. I’m here in the US trying to focus on those mini-camps and Summer League and whatever happens after that, happens,” said Sotto, who donned the Gilas jersey during the Asian Qualifiers alongside Jordan Clarkson.
Gilas has included Clarkson and Sotto, as well as Justin Brownlee, in the 21-man pool that will tour Europe and China in the runup to the World Cup that will run from late-August until the first two weeks of September.
However, Sotto seems to have sent out a cryptic message regarding what’s on the horizon.
“I’m not looking too much at the future. I’m focused on the present. So many things can happen in the next couple of months. I’m just trying to focus on what I can do today. Whatever happens after that, happens,” said Sotto.
