Training and playing for the Batang Gilas national squad that will see action in the FIBA World Under-19 Championship in Greece will be 7’2” Kai Sotto’s first priority.
This is what he initially intends to do when he flies to Atlanta, Georgia in the United States in the first week of April.
“May under-19 tournament pa siya. Tatapusin niya ito. At saka siya babalik ulit ng US,” said Kai’s dad Ervin Sotto, who spoke on his behalf.
The 16-year-old Sotto is taking steps to become a better player after he was shown opportunities that may someday allow him to play in the National Basketball Association.
Training full time for the next two months will be his goal at the moment.
Studying and possibly playing for a college or a university that is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association is still out of the question.
Signing a contract with an agent could reportedly nullify any plans for Kai to become a student-athlete while in the US.
The family of Kai made their plans known on Tuesday through Ervin during a sendoff party held at the Marquee Tent of the EDSA Shangrila Hotel in Mandaluyong.
The sendoff party, which was attended by Sotto’s friends, relatives, supporters and teammates from the Ateneo Blue Eaglets, was hosted by Bounty Agro Ventures, Inc president/CEO, and Chooks to Go executive Ronald Mascarinas.
Mascarinas, who is one of Sotto’s top supporters, is bankrolling Sotto’s US trip.
“Unang stop namin ay sa US. Kasi, kailangan ni Kai na magpalakas ng katawan. Alam natin na ang basketball ay isang physical game,” said the elder Sotto.
The young Sotto will be in the US for two months, not just to train, but find a camp that’s tailor-made for tall players.
Sotto will be back home by June to be with the Batang Gilas squad that’s being prepared for Greece.
“Masaya po ako at nakasama ko kayo sa aking pag-alis,” said Sotto on the big turnout of wellwishers during his sendoff.
Mascarinas and his roasted chicken business Chooks-to-Go promised to fund Sotto’s overseas training.
“We’re very excited about Kai Sotto. He’s the Yao Ming or the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar of the Philippines. We’re excited to be part of his development. Whether nandito si Kai or sa labas ng bansa, our support will continue,” said Mascarinas.
Sotto, who played for three years with the Blue Eaglets, averaged 25.1 points, 13.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.6 blocks in 29.7 minutes on his final season.
Sotto has plans of making it to the NBA by 2021.
The Blue Eaglets went on to settle for runner up honors in the last season of the UAAP junior basketball tournament after losing to the Nazareth School-National National University Bullpups.
Despite the loss, Sotto still claimed the season MVP award.
Ervin confirmed that clubs like the EuroLeague’s Real Madrid, FC Barcelona and Baskonia, Bundesliga’s Alda Berlin and Liga ACB’s Movistar Estudiantes are interested in his son.
But their camp has not made a final decision on the offers. “‹