IT wasn’t too long ago when everything Kai Sotto did on the hardcourt resulted in big views and big bucks for all those sports content creators, who – for better or for worse – certainly had a hand in how the 7’3 beanpole is viewed today.
Kai Sotto, ginulat ang mundo!! One video title would say.
Kai Sotto, ginulat ang G-League! Ginulat ang NBA! Ginulat si (whoever famous player he was up against that day).
READ: Brownlee believes Kai Sotto good enough to play in the NBA
Such headlines caught up in the consciousness of the Filipino mainstream basketball fans and personalities, including Sotto himself.
Sotto was such a good sport about it, even dropping silly lines like Kai Sotto ginulay ang monggo – reminding us that after all, as big and as promising as he is, he’s still a kid.
But he’s growing right before our very eyes now.
Four games into the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers, Sotto is no longer the promising young kid who will make headlines for a couple of baskets or a wide open dunk.
No longer a boy, Sotto is now a man. He’s now THE MAN for Gilas Pilipinas..
As Gilas remains unbeaten through four games in the qualifiers, Sotto is having himself a breakout qualifiers, showing that indeed the future is now.
WATCH:
In those games, Sotto averaged 15.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.3 blocks on a whooping 25.3 efficiency per game for coach Tim Cone.
Breaking down those numbers further, Sotto is currently third best in the rebounding stats of the qualifiers and is the only non-naturalized player in the Top Five, while also playing the least minutes (25!!!) among those on the list.
His 2.3 blocks also ranks him third in the tournament, while playing two more games than those above him – proving his consistency on the defensive end.
He’s also one of the best passing bigs in the tournament, as his 3.8 assists ranks him second among centers. FIBA also ranks him the third most efficient player in the tournament so far, just behind teammate Justin Brownlee and Japan’s Josh Hawkinson.
Just a further note, in his only full game in the FIBA Olympic Qualifiers in Riga, Latvia, Sotto was a man among boys against the more physical bigs of No. 6-ranked Latvia by putting up 18 points and eight boards.
Kai-to-Eye
But enough of the numbers, let’s take a look at the eye test.
If there’s one thing that’s really different for Kai it’s his confidence, hands down.
Each time Kai has the ball, whether it be down low or on the pinch post, you get a sense that he knows what he wants to do with the ball, and he knows how to do it.
Sure, there will be some bad passes here and there which will result in a turnover and some plays wherein he’d look his age (and size) where he’ll get outmuscled by a bulkier, older player down low. But it’s all part of it.
The positive flipside will always negate the bad things as now, the Philippines has a 7’3 guy who can put the ball on the floor, take open jumpers, find open teammates and be a constant lob threat – giving more space for the likes of Brownlee, Scottie Thompson, Chris Newsome and Dwight Ramos to penetrate freely.
That’s because the team is basically playing around Kai’s strengths, and it helps that Cone’s triangle absolutely allows Kai’s skills to flourish.
As ironic as this sounds because the triangle can be a bit restrictive to some players, Kai is getting to play more freely in this system as it allows him to really show what makes him so special other than his size.
In this system where off-ball movement is key, Kai can easily find cutters with his height and passing skills; he can give up the ball and reposition himself for an easy basket; he can put the ball on the floor depending on how he reads the defense, and he can shoot.
It’s no surprise that with Kai being involved more on the offense, the identity of the Philippines as a team has changed for the better as they now lead the entire region in rebounding, blocked shots and efficiency. They also ranked second most in points per game, just behind Australia.
Look, this isn’t another piece maligning former Gilas coach Chot Reyes. We’ve had enough of those. It was a different system, it came at a time when Kai was younger (that B.League stint is really working wonders for Kai now), with his eyes solely on making it to the NBA.
What this piece is about, though, is excitement. Excitement with how Kai is playing with joy and confidence under Cone and his triangle offense.
READ Gilas officially books ticket to Fiba Asia Cup after NZ win over Taipei
It’s showing with his demeanor, how he handles himself on the court, and it only means amazing things for the Philippines now, and for the long term future of Gilas.
With that said, the “Kai, ginulat ang mundo” memes are old news now, and it’s time to drop it, cause there’s nothing really surprising with what Kai Sotto is doing for the Philippines.
Kai is finally starting to get a grasp of how good he can really be for Gilas. And there’s really nothing surprising about it.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
