Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

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  Ran Abdilla gives Rebisco-PH rude send-off as Air Force, Cignal end elims on top

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.”

Written By


You May Also Like

Basketball

There was never any doubt in Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone’s mind about Scottie Thompson’s potential on the international stage. Thompson had seen...

Basketball

Despite coming off a concussion, Kai Sotto delivered a stellar performance, filling the stat sheet in Gilas Pilipinas’ landmark victory over New Zealand on...

Basketball

Nearly two years into his tenure with Gilas Pilipinas Men, Justin Brownlee has repeatedly proven that the Philippines’ success on the international basketball stage...

Basketball

Before the second window of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers, Gilas Pilipinas Men’s head coach Tim Cone promised fans a highly-motivated and rejuvenated...

Basketball

After four lopsided defeats, Gilas Pilipinas finally cracked the Tall Blacks code. Kai Sotto and Justin Brownlee led the way as the Philippines secured...

Basketball

Gilas Pilipinas has kept the same lineup for its upcoming FIBA Asia Cup 2025 qualifier against New Zealand on Thursday, with Justin Brownlee once...

Basketball

Filipino-American big man Quentin Millora-Brown has made a significant impact so far in his one-and-done season with University of the Philippines in the UAAP...

Basketball

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas has officially appointed Alfrancis Chua as the program director and team manager for both the Gilas Pilipinas Boys’ and...

Advertisement