CHICAGO - Days after parting ways with the Hiroshima Dragonflies, Kai Sotto is headed to the Yokohama B-Corsairs, multiple sources in the Japan B.League told SPIN.ph.
The 7-foot-4 Filipino is expected to sign the paperwork for his transfer on Saturday. He will then begin practicing with his new team this coming Tuesday and the expectation is that Sotto will play next weekend.
READ Kai Sotto to be loaned by Hiroshima to another Japan B.League team: source
"He finally had time to get the proper rest," a source told me about Kai's extended time off the court due to a back injury that had sidelined him since he last played at the FIBA World Cup 2023 when Gilas beat China on September 2.
The migration from Hiroshima to Yokohama will benefit Sotto on several fronts, foremost of which is the potential for more playing time.
With 6-foot-11 Josh Scott as their only true center, the B-Consairs are light on bigs, which bodes well for the Gilas Pilipinas mainstay whose efficiency rating is well above average when he is given more opportunities to showcase his skills.
While Scott averages a healthy 6.2 points and 7.7 rebounds a game in 27.1 minutes of action per contest, Kai's presence can certainly help protect the rim and the boards for a team that is currently 7-12 in the standings.
At Yokohama, Kai gets to play with Yuki Kawamura, an excellent point guard who averages 25.2 points and 5.8 assists per game. As they say in basketball, an unselfish playmaker is a big man's best friend.
Off the court, moving to Yokohama provides added more opportunities for Kai to bolster his brand through marketing and sponsorships.
B-Corsairs can use Sotto help
Unlike Hiroshima, which is 809 kilometers far, Yokohama is only 35 kilometers away from Tokyo. The B-Corsairs can also use some help, currently mired in 19th place in the B.League standings with a 7-12 record.
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