Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

Basketball

Ateneo Blue Eaglets head coach sentimental as Kai Sotto pursues NBA dream


If there’s one person in Ateneo High School who knows Kai Sotto so well, that has to be Reggie Varilla.

Ever since the 7-foot-2 prodigy started in the Ateneo around 2017, up until he played his last game for the Blue Eaglets in the recently-concluded National Basketball Traning Center National Finals, Varilla was there by his side.

“When he first played for Ateneo dun siya sa team ko muna, when I was handling the development team,” he said.

“Yung unang time na nagsuot siya ng Ateneo jersey and last time na nagsuot siya ng Ateneo jersey, kami yung magkasama.”

And when the Sotto camp had a press conference care of Chooks-to-Go on Tuesday evening that circled on his decision to go abroad and chase his NBA dream, Varilla was there, along with the 16-year-old’s fellow Blue Eaglets.

Varilla admitted that he’s going to miss the second-generation star as he departs overseas, but he’s nonetheless happy.

“Happy kami na natulungan namin siya to develop this early,” he said. “Siyempre medyo sad din ng onti dahil mamimiss namin siya — just the same way na mamimiss namin sina Geo Chiu, sina Jed Diaz, sina Daniel David.

“But every year naman ganun. That’s high school basketball for you.”

Under Varilla, Sotto became the UAAP Season 81 Juniors Most Valuable Player. Asked if he feels that he has done enough to help the Batang Gilas Pilipinas cornerstone develop more as a player, Varilla could only hope so.

“I am not a fortune teller but we certainly hope so,” Varilla said. “We’ll keep praying for him na sana mas madevelop pa siya sa ibang bansa

Now that Sotto is about to leave soon, Varilla only has a few advices. “Ang lagi ko sinasabi sa kanya is if you have a dream, chase it for your own reasons, not for anyone else. It won’t be easy. May araw na masaya, may araw na mahirap,” he expressed.

Ang isipin mo lang we’re all here, we’re praying for you. Don’t be pressured. Don’t play for us. Play for yourself. Yun lagi ko sinasabi.”

#ReadMore  Kai Sotto perfectly describes Gilas vs Jordan: 'It was just selfless basketball'
Written By

Oftentimes on the sidelines. Forever a student of the game. Morayta-bred.


You May Also Like

ADMU

AURELIO Fransman delivered in the clutch, lifting Adamson University to its biggest win yet in the UAAP Season 87 Junior High School Basketball Tournament,...

ADMU

In light of the impending severe weather, the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) has announced the postponement of all scheduled games for...

ADMU

Ateneo de Manila University standout Zane Kallos is focused on his school’s campaign in the UAAP Season 87 Junior High School Basketball Tournament, despite...

ADMU

Zane Kallos once again showed the way, powering Ateneo de Manila University to a commanding 78-60 victory over neighbor University of the Philippines Integrated...

ADMU

The UAAP has released the second-round schedule for Season 87 basketball, introducing key changes to the three divisions currently playing. In the first round,...

ADMU

Prince Cariño took charge in the final frame, carrying Far Eastern University-Diliman to a thrilling 90-83 win over University of Santo Tomas to end...

ADMU

UNIVERSITY of the East weathered a third-quarter surge by Ateneo de Manila University, emerging victorious with a 70-59 win to edge closer to a...

ADMU

Far Eastern University-Diliman extended its winning streak to three games, overpowering Ateneo de Manila University with an 80-61 victory to remain in solo second...

Advertisement