After the Phoenix Fuel Masters-NLEX Road Warriors tilt Sunday evening at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum, a towering figure walked through the hallways of the fabled arena. It was seven-foot sensation Kai Sotto.
Sotto, who is just 15 years old, was named as part of the 23 for 2023 wishlist of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas last Friday. Together with fellow big man Carl Tamayo, they are the youngest in the batch.
With the tournament still five years away, the Ateneo Blue Eaglet has yet to think about it. What matters to him right now is how he can improve physically and mentally in those five years.
“Thankful ako na nakasama ako sa pool. Pagtratrabahuan ko talaga yung spot na yun sa team,” said Sotto, who helped lead Batang Gilas during the 2017 SEABA Championship.
“Siyempre isa yun sa magiging goals ko. Paghihirapan ko talaga ito.”
There is pressure though that comes with being named to an elite list. Sotto though reitirated that he has yet to feel it. And it is understandable as he has yet to even finish his secondary education in Ateneo.
“Wala pa kong nararamdaman na pressure.
“Para sa akin, five years pa naman yun at may oras pa ko na pagtrabahuan yun,” furthered Sotto, who is averaging 12.9 points, 12.7 rebounds, and a league-leading 4.9 blocks after the first round of the UAAP Season 80 Juniors Basketball Tournament.
Being a high school student, Sotto won’t be attending the pool’s Monday night sessions. And this just shows that Sotto won’t allow the glitz and glamour of being part of Gilas get in the way of him being a normal teenager.
