Lester Prosper is impressed with the progress Kai Sotto has made thus far, as he met the Filipino prodigy up close and personal just recently.
The former PBA import with Columbian worked out with the 18-year-old in Miami, as they both train under pro skills coach Stan Remy. Prosper had shared on Instagram Thursday (Manila time) his meeting with Sotto.
Sotto has been spending some time in Miami to continue his basketball training. He was seen working out with ex-NBA star Amar’e Stoudemire, currently a player development assistant for the Brooklyn Nets.
“Saw him in high school. His game grew a lot cerebrally and physically he has a little more to do, but that will come. He is only 18,” Prosper said in a chat with Tiebreaker Times.
The two actually had a chance to battle each other months ago in the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers’ third and final window, as Southeast Asian rivals Indonesia and the Philippines were set for a collision course.
Prosper is Timnas’ naturalized center — he made his Timnas debut in the previous ACQ window in Manama, Bahrain last November — while Sotto has been added to Gilas Pilipinas Men’s youth-laden training pool.
That, though, didn’t happen due to postponements. The tilt originally set last February in Pampanga was moved to Doha, but Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health ordered to cancel events due to the increasing COVID-19 cases there.
The ACQ has since been moved to June 16-20 back in Clark. And Prosper is excited with the possibility of him and Sotto batting it out in the future.
“Yeah man, of course! It’s going to be super entertaining for the fans and it’s what they want to see,” said the 32-year-old well-travelled cager.
“I have my Filipino family and my Indo family, they are all waiting for this,” added Prosper, who also expressed his desire to return to the PBA soon.
But while waiting for that to happen, Prosper is more than willing to be of help for the former NBA G-League Ignite member.
“If he has any questions, he can text me.”
