Kai Sotto pays it forward to younger Filipino basketball hopefuls

Editor’s note: Kai Sotto debuted on the international scene in 2019 and quickly rose through the ranks while pulling the attention of international teams and sports publications. Smart Communications has partnered with Sotto to promote their Double GIGA Stories promotion. See their press release below.

Young Filipino international basketball star Kai Sotto, 19, is fully aware of his status as a role model for the youth and aspiring cagers like him, which is why he makes the most out of his opportunities to be an inspiration.

“Naniniwala ako na nabubuhay ako dito sa mundo kasi may purpose ako—to serve as an inspiration and give back (I believe that I continue to live in this world because I have a purpose—to serve as an inspiration and give back),” said Sotto in a video interview for Smart, for which he is an ambassador for their Double Giga Stories data offer. 

When Sotto is not busy slugging it out with some of the world’s best basketball centers, he is hands-on in building the Kaiju Global Academy from the ground up. Kaiju Global Academy is Kai’s very own basketball and sports discipline training camp, which intends to nurture the passions and purpose of young Filipinos. For Sotto, he knows the value of realizing one’s dreams early in life and be able to act on them by knowing that there are support systems out there, such as Kaiju, devoted to the journey and progress of young athletes. 

“Gusto kong ma-reach yung mga younger kids. I’m always aware na laging may nanonood, nakatingin sa mga ginagawa ko. I take care to be a good example para sa ibang tao (I want to reach younger kids. I’m always aware that there will be someone watching, looking at the things I do. I take care to be a good example for other people),” he continues.

He even has a personal hashtag, which serves as a kind of code that he lives by. “’Yung #WatchMeWork, ‘yun ‘yung gusto kong i-prove sa mga tao. Watch me work, and makikita mo yung mga resulta (#WatchMeWork embodies what I want to prove to people. Watch me work, and you will see the results.”

Sotto mostly uses his social media platforms, especially Twitter, to broadcast his passion and stories for the sport.

Beyond the impressive international opportunities, he’s received in his young career so far – such as his time in the NBA G League, his current stint playing for the Adelaide 36ers of the Australian National Basketball League, and suiting up for the Gilas Pilipinas national men’s basketball team – he is also already giving back to the next generation with his Kaiju Global Academy, a place to mold future basketball stars in Hamilton, Ohio, USA.

As of this writing, Sotto just came from a breakout stint for the FIBA Asia Clark leg and is currently playing for flag and honor at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade, Serbia. 

“Binigyan ka ni Lord ng purpose, kaya ka nandito (God gave you a person, that’s why you’re here),” Sotto concludes. “Hindi ka niya bibigyan ng challenge na hindi mo kayang i-overcome (He will never give you a challenge that you cannot overcome).”

Share your purpose through your stories

As Sotto has shown, platforms like Twitter are great ways to share one’s stories of purpose with the world. Smart subscribers can follow his lead and inspire others with their stories of passion and purpose when they avail of Smart’s Double GIGA Stories!

Double GIGA Stories comes with 2 GB for Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tiktok, and Kumu guaranteed every day, plus data for all sites, all powered by the country’s fastest mobile data network as reported by third-party mobile internet analytics firm Ookla® and Opensignal.

To enjoy Double GIGA Stories, just go to the Smart GigaLife App or dial *123# and choose Double GIGA.

For more basketball news and Kai’s stories, follow Smart’s official Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/SmartCommunications) and @livesmart on Instagram and Twitter. – Rappler.com