After Kai Sotto announced his decision to join Gilas Pilipinas for the Clark window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers Thursday morning (Manila time), questions lingered on how this will affect his stint with G League Ignite and, ultimately, the chase for the NBA dream.
East West Private Chief Executive Officer Maria Espaldon assured though that the G League itself has agreed to excuse the 18-year-old from the start of its season this February, just like it did for Princepal Singh during the second window last November.
“The NBA G League agreed for Kai to meet his previous commitments to play for the National Team,” Espaldon told Tiebreaker Times.
Ignite will take part in the 18-team field of the 2021 G League Season, set to take place at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. The G League is eyeing a February 8 start.
Gilas, on the other hand, will face Korea on February 18 and 22 and Indonesia on the 20th.
The G League asked the Sotto camp for one thing, though.
“They have asked that he immediately report back to the G League bubble after his last National Team game,” shared Espaldon, the sister of late Ateneo great Nonoy Chuatico.
Regarding the date of Sotto’s arrival, EWP is coordinating with the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas on the logistics of it.
The SBP, for its part, is doing everything it can to get Sotto here as soon as possible.
“We are closely coordinating with the Federation,” shared Espaldon.
