What’s next for Kai Sotto after the FIBA World Cup 2023? And what’s the biggest lesson the Philippines should have learned from a small, poor country like South Sudan?
Finally, the 7-3 Sotto got ample minutes in their fourth game and gave solid numbers with 8 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 shot blocks in a losing cause against South Sudan on Thursday at the Araneta Coliseum.
Fans had a lot of expectations from Kai before the World Cup. In fact, the young NBA aspirant is all fired up himself prior to the World Cup.
“It’s extra energy and motivation for me every time I play here in the country, I’m very happy,” said Sotto during PUMA’s ‘Our Ball Above All’ event where he was introduced as the brand’s ambassador at Glorietta Activity Center on Saturday.
“Blessings yan and it’s also a challenge that I have to do whatever it takes to do my best and make them proud,” he added.
But much to the chagrin of his fans, he was used sparingly and unable to prove himself in all the first three losing games of Gilas Pilipinas in the first phase of the FIBA World Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Then it lost again, this time to a small country that had just started playing serious, organized basketball as a FIBA member in 2013.
And so, the Philippines missed the last bus going to the Paris Olympics 2024 and if it had to get one, the FIBA World Cup was not the right route.
Sotto, though, has learned to just shrug it off and asked the fans to continue supporting Gilas.
“Please continue to support us. We’re doing our best naman to get the win. Kinukulang nga lang, pero that’s basketball, walang madaling game. For us, move on lang.
After the World Cup, Sotto will go back to his professional sojourn in the Japan B League where he signed a contract extension with the Dragonflies which he helped reach the finals before bowing to top-ranked Chiba in three games.
Sotto averaged 8.92 points, 6.08 boards, 1.38 assists, and 1.29 blocks with Hiroshima in 24 games in the recent season.
As a Puma ambassador, Sotto said he will continue to set an example and strive for the best to achieve his dreams, including a stint in the NBA.
“(t’s)extra energy, extra motivation for me to push myself knowing that there’s always a lot of people supporting me,” he added.
But will we ever see Sotto in uniform again in the future? Interestingly, Sotto is one of the names that Reyes mentioned to be the future core of Gilas, along with AJ Edu and Dwight Ramos.
“They definitely grew as a group from this experience and learned a lot. There is a lot to look forward for those guys.”
But then again, leaders at the Gilas program should take a look at South Sudan, if they want to make long-term progress in the sport that make the Filipinos’ heart beat fast and loud.
SOUTH SUDAN STORY
While the Gilas Pilipinas’ campaign did not end well and generated a lot of hate among fans, Sudan was just happy to play and show the world how appropriate planning can make a difference.
“We use basketball for peace and to change the narrative in our country. Everybody is watching us. In basketball, we share the vision of friendship, love, and sportsmanship,” said Sudan head coach Royal Ivey.
A young country with just 11 million plus population, South Sudan is one of the least developed countries in the world.
It gained independence from Sudan in 2011 after suffering ethnic violence and enduring a couple of civil wars and is now a member of the United Nations and the African Union.
Things improved tremendously for South Sudan when NBA legend Luol Deng became president of its national basketball federation.
He acquired former teammate Royal Ivey as head coach in September 2012 and from there, made major ascent in African basketball, capped by the masterful conquest of Tunisia.
In the World Cup in Manila, South Sudan earned its first World Cup victory by beating Asian mighty China and later broke the hearts of the hometown crowd by topping host Gilas Pilipinas.
Using South Sudan’s story as a motivation, Sotto and Gilas Pilipinas can still set things in the right direction.