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2023 FIBA World Cup

Kai Sotto vows to join Gilas after NBA Summer League


Kai Sotto will head to the Big Apple next week for a workout with the New York Knicks.

It will be the last team he will have a workout with before the NBA Summer League.

And it’s been so far so good for the 7-foot-3 Filipino, according to Wasserman Sports’ Tony Ronzone.

“Kai’s been fortunate that we were able to get him the three mini camps,” Ronzone told Play It Right TV after also securing camp invites from Utah and Dallas over the last couple of weeks.

“He’s going through the process right now to introduce himself to NBA teams and coaches and compete against other players that are hungry to get an opportunity to play in the Summer League and get an opporunity to make a roster,” the former Mavericks, , Timberwolves, and Pistons executive continued.

“It’s a great opportunity for him.”

If Sotto gets the opportunity from any of those three teams, he will play in the Summer League from July 7 to 17 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The 21-year-old big man, who used to play for Adelaide and is currently set to return to Hiroshima if the NBA dream does not pan out, plans to immediately head back home to join Gilas after the league.

“Any basketball player would want to play for their country, especially at this level. It’s the World Cup and the Philippines is hosting so it might be the biggest games in our careers,” expressed Sotto.

“The Summer League won’t be a conflict in terms of scheduling. I mean, the Summer League finishes in mid-July and the World Cup is at the end of August. I think there will be time.”

Aside from Sotto, Utah guard Jordan Clarkson will only get to join the team a few weeks before the global meet.

#ReadMore  Roger Pogoy on Gilas grind: 'Kung makakasali ka, sasali ka talaga'

Sotto hopes for understanding as the possibility of making it to an NBA team’s Summer League squad is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that may not come again.

“This is my dream to make it to the NBA. I just have to keep on working to make it there,” he said.

“After the Summer League, I’m pretty much focused on the World Cup.”

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