Could Kai Sotto be the First Homegrown Filipino NBA Player?
Filipino sensation Kai Sotto has been on a tear lately, averaging double-doubles in his last few games with Yokohama in the Japan B-League. In his previous match with the team, the Gilas Pilipinas center contributed 13 points as the B-Corsairs massacred Nagasaki Velca, 102-69, on Sunday at Yokohama International Pool in the 2023-24 Japan B.League season. It is his eighth straight game to hit double figures in scoring since being moved to the starting five in the past nine games.
The towering 7-foot-3 center has scored double digits in eight straight games for Yokohama. With its latest victory, Yokohama improved its record to 21-24 as it continues to make its playoff push through the wildcards. Before its game against Nagasaki, Kai Sotto scored 17 points on 7/12 shooting in 29 minutes in a 90-76 loss to the same team.
He has also been notching double-doubles, going for five out of his last eight games—three strung consecutively. Last February 10, Sotto started to produce big with 18 points and ten rebounds in an 89-79 defeat at the hands of the Chiba Jets. He showed it was not a fluke by dropping a career-high 26 markers and 11 boards on a revenge win over Chiba the following day.
On March 2, he had 14 and 8, but they faltered to Kawasaki Brave Thunders, 83-67. In their rematch the following day, Sotto put up impressive numbers of 21 points and 12 rebounds as Yokohama won this time, 84-73.
Versus San-en NeoPhoenix, Sotto exploded for 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in an 81-76 victory on March 6. On March 20, he had 16 and 14 in an 84-69 win over Toyama Grouses. He is averaging 12 points, 6.2 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 0.2 steals, and one block per game. With his strong showing in the B-League, the question is where Kai Sotto will go after this season.
It’s no secret that Sotto will still want to pursue his NBA dreams despite failing the first time he attempted it. He will be attending the NBA Summer League again after his stint in Japan, although there are still no words on whose team he will be suiting up. With a more mature playing style this time, Sotto hopes that an NBA team will ultimately sign him into a standard contract for the 2024-2025 NBA season. But first, he must impress scouts in the Summer League.
The son of former PBA player Ervin Sotto has already come a long way. He suited up for the Orlando Magic last Summer League, where he only got ample minutes. He applied for the draft in 2022, but no NBA teams took a gamble on him.
His career in the United States started on the right foot when he signed with the NBA G-league Ignite as part of the league’s new developmental program operating outside its traditional team structure on May 13, 2020. However, Sotto missed several games with Ignite after choosing to play for Gilas Pilipinas at the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup. Despite being able to return to the US, the NBA G-League announced that it has reached a mutual decision that Sotto would not be able to rejoin Ignite.
Because he signed with Ignite, he forfeited his rights to play on a college team in NCAA Division 1. He was also ineligible for the 2021 NBA Draft, having just graduated from high school in the same year.
He took his talent to Australia and signed a contract with the Adelaide 36ers in the National Basketball League (NBL). He was recruited as a Special Restricted Player, meaning he is treated the same way as a local player and is not subject to the NBL’s import limit. He stayed there for two seasons before deciding to take his act in Japan after inking with the Hiroshima Dragonflies on February 7, 2023. He stayed for one season with Hiroshima before he was loaned to Yokohama, where he is currently playing, on December 28, 2023.
Wherever Sotto goes, let’s just hope that he excels and pray that he finally reaches his NBA dreams.
