IN just two Fiba Basketball World Cup games, Kai Sotto has already faced two NBA players in Karl-Anthony Towns of Dominican Republic and Bruno Fernando of Angola, while teaming up with Jordan Clarkson at Gilas Pilipinas.
It is a moment that the NBA aspirant cherishes.
“You can see naman from Karl-Anthony Towns, Jordan Clarkson, nakikita niyo naman kung gaano kagaling na NBA players,” said Sotto. “Hindi lang sila NBA players pero they are really, really good players sa liga nila.”
SCENARIOS: Gilas must beat Italy by 18 - and hope for Angola loss
“Talagang rerespetuhin mo ‘yung galing nila, IQ nila, paano dalhin ‘yung team nila. I think it’s a blessing for me to play with Jordan and play against those guys,” said Sotto.
Sotto’s first game in the World Cup was a short one as he was limited to 73 seconds when he picked up two early fouls against Towns in the loss to the Dominican Republic.
The Gilas big man played a lot better in the second game against Fernando and Co, scoring eight points and grabbing six rebounds in 19 minutes.
The two games showed that Sotto still needs a lot to work on.
“Marami pa rin pagkukulang. Marami pa ring puwedeng iimprove. Wala namang perfect game kahit manalo ka,” said the Hiroshima Dragonflies star.
Sotto had quality minutes despite also getting two quick fouls in the game against Angola.
“We like the match-ups,” said Gilas coach Chot Reyes, when asked about Sotto. “We kept him inside because there was a guy that we felt that we could match up well against as against the Dominican Republic in the other game, he was forced to match up with Karl-Anthony Towns. It was a difficult match-up for us.
"It was a game of match-ups and personnel. We felt that Kai could stay longer on the floor (against Angola)."
Sotto said the limited minutes against Dominican Republic was a wake-up call for him.
“The first game, binigyan ko ng pag-aalangan ‘yung mga coaches siguro kaya hindi nila ako magamit. Simula noon, iniisip ko na talaga kung ano kailangan kong gawin at ipakita para sa next game, mas handa ako. With this Angola team, mas match-up ako sa mga match-ups sa bigs ng Angola,” said Sotto.
That willingness to learn is the same attitude he will bring when Gilas Pilipinas faces Italy on Tuesday.
“Panonoorin ko uli ‘yung game namin. I think important rin ‘yung effort of everybody sa team to fight back. Kung ano ‘yung natutunan namin (against Angola), ia-add namin sa next game,” Sotto said.
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