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Friday, March 29, 2024

Sotto is future of PH Basketball

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MEET the future of Philippine basketball. Seven foot one Ateneo high school standout Kai Sotto.

At age 2, he saw his father, 6’7” Ervin, run up and down the court while playing for his team in the PBA, the Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs.

Because Kai loved to have a basketball with him all the time while at home in Las Piñas, Ervin put up a little basketball backboard for him to shoot balls at during playtime.

“Malaking bata, palaging sumasama sa games,” said Ervin, who has since retired, and at 36, is now one of the assistant coaches of NLEX.

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Thirteen years later, Ervin signed a contract on Kai’s behalf at the ESPN 5 office, and his son  became the latest brand ambassador of Chooks-to-Go, which is the chief backer of Gilas Pilipinas.

Kai Sotto

The contract that Ervin signed for Kai with Ateneo team consultant Arben Santos will  give the kid ample support when he is  training overseas with the Gilas Pilipinas national men’s basketball team. Also at the signing ceremony was Chooks boss Ronald Mascarinas and Gilas coach Chot Reyes.

Two weeks ago, Kai started joining the regular scrimmages of the national squad.

Kai, who is the youngest member of Gilas, said that with this new development in his career, this gives him plenty of confidence in his coming undertakings.

Kai’s deal with his new supporter was sealed a day before the Blue Eaglets met their last opponent, the Nazareth School-National University Bullpups in their last game of the second round. They eventualy finished with 14-0 sweep of the eliminations of the 80th University Athletic Association of the Philippines Junior Basketball Tournament.

Ervin, who used to play together with Ranidel de Ocampo in college with the St. Francis of Assissi Doves won numerous titles in the NCRAA. He said that through the years, Kai has managed to copy his quickness on the court, grab rebounds and make short range shots.

“Ang nakikita kong nadala niya ay iyung tumatakbo ako palagi sa game at tumatakbo rin siya. At mahilig din ako tumira sa labas. So tinuro ka para may mid-range at long range siya,” said Ervin.

While Kai still has to develop his outside shooting, Reyes saw things that set him apart when he first joined the scrimmages.

On his first practice with Gilas, Kai was put on the same floor with senior players Jason Castro, Troy Rosario, Gabe Norwood and Matthew Wright.

They went on a 5-and-O offensive running drill routine, and went up against two big imports to simulate the defense of an Australian squad that they’re scouting.

Reyes said he was impressed at how Kai held his ground.

“He handled himself well,” said Reyes.

Ervin explained since coming the Ateneo Blue Eaglets fold last year, Kai’s game has matured.

“Malaki ang improvement, especially sa quickness niya. May awareness na at nakikita na iyung weak side. Matigas na nang konti at di na natutulak. Dati, natutulak siya. Naho-hold na ang ground sa post at sumasama na rebound. Pero marami pang dapat ayusin,” said Ervin.

Kai will be given many opportunities. Much more than when his dad was just starting out, according to Ervin.

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