Kai Sotto is expected to spend more time with the Gilas Pilipinas national men’s basketball team this month.
This will give the 7’3” Sotto and members of Team Pilipinas an extended period to be together to develop chemistry as a squad.
Gilas has gone back to practice and is getting ready for the last window of the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers in mid-June and the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade, Serbia from June 29 to July 4.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Alfredo Panlilio said he expects the 18-year-old Sotto to be in the country a full month before the FIBA Asia Qualifiers, so that he will be able to have enough time for a quarantine period and more scrimmages with Gilas.
“Hopefully, a month at least while we address quarantine and floor time with coach Tab (Baldwin),” said Panlilio.
Sotto, who is the second youngest player the Adelaide 36ers signed up and is being groomed for next year’s NBA rookie draft, will be playing against players much older than him in his coming tournaments, according to Panlilio.
“As much time as he can join and it will be for a long stretch starting in June,” added Panlilio on the number of hours that Sotto needs to be with Gilas.
Adelaide coaches echoed Panlilio’s sentiments, noting that Sotto’s exposures in the NBA G-League and during his collegiate days in the Philippines, were mostly against players within his age bracket.
Exposing Sotto to matured and veteran players in the Australian National Basketball League will most likely help him level up on his development.
