GILAS Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes is keeping his fingers crossed Kai Sotto’s confidence remains high as playing time remains elusive for the 7-foot-3 Filipino with the Orlando Magic in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.
Reyes said he hasn’t talked to Sotto yet, but based on what he reads on social media, the lanky, 21-year-old still seemed to be in high spirits despite sitting on the bench for the entire games against Detroit, Indiana, and New York.
READ: Kai Sotto a DNP in third straight Summer League game
The Gilas coach said that should be the proper attitude given Sotto’s dream of becoming the first homegrown Filipino to play in the NBA.
“I hope it doesn’t bother him. I think his attitude is pretty good sa mga nababasa ko,” said Reyes after Gilas Pilipinas resumed its training camp for the FIBA World Cup on Thursday at the Meralco gym.
“He just needs to stay ready. Wala naman siyang magagawa kung ayaw siyang ipasok ng coach niya. So just stay ready and stay positive.”
The Magic have two remaining games in the Summer League including one against the Portland Trailblazers early Friday.
Even if he’s not being played, Reyes hopes Sotto is doing some extra work of his own for him to be already in game shape once he joined Gilas in its training camp.
“I hope he’s doing a lot of extra work. Kung hindi siya nakakalaro sa game, dapat nagpapa-kundisyon siya. Yun ang importante,” according to the national coach.
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.
