Kai Sotto will once again be a highly sought-after talent in the coming months due to his commitments to the Australian NBL and Gilas Pilipinas, but both organizations have assured each other that there will be no tug-of-war for the services of the teenage titan.

“With the pandemic, the quarantines, the lockdowns, trying to get through all the red tapes, and fitting schedules together, it isn’t easy,” said national team program director Tab Baldwin in Sotto’s recent press conference.

“But everybody should know that everybody has the best intentions to make it work, and Kai has the passion to play for Gilas. Without being able to give specifics, we’re all working towards that.”

Adelaide 36ers general manager Jeff Van Groningen likewise made it clear that Sotto’s new team will try its best to make the schedules work for the benefit of the 7-foot-3 prospect, and out of mutual respect for Baldwin.

“We’re very aware of Tab’s national program, the Philippine national program. Just to set some minds at ease about how our club works with the Philippine national program, we’re used to this,” he said.

“We have many players within the Australian Boomers national team that are also in Adelaide 36ers players. We are used to working with the FIBA windows, we’re used to communicating with the coaches, and we know the coaches very well.”

It is worth noting that Sotto and his former team NBA G League Ignite mutually parted ways shortly after the young big man went home to the Philippines in the middle of the G League bubble season to practice for Gilas.

While the true reasons for the controversial split were never revealed, it’s safe to say that one party got in the way of the other, leading to a losing situation for everyone involved as Sotto never got to play with Gilas either due to coronavirus concerns with FIBA.

Van Groningen assured fans that there will be no conflicts this time around, or any avoidable ones, at least.

“In the case of Tab, I’ve gotten to see him even before Kai Sotto was even thought about for the Adelaide 36ers. Tab also worked for many years having to balance those needs of club teams around the world with his national programs with New Zealand and the Philippines,” he said.

“We are very comfortable integrating national team players in our program. If a player is a national team player, it means he’s a good player, so we work around it, and make sure that both his national club and professional club are respected.”

For now, it looks like Sotto’s career is finally clear of non-COVID-related roadblocks, which can only bode well for one of the brightest futures in Philippine basketball, if not the brightest. – Rappler.com