To a lot of basketball fans, Kai Sotto already holds a lot of titles like “future Filipino NBA prospect” or “future of Philippine basketball.”
However, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is asking the public to hold off a bit on the rising, albeit warranted, excitement for the 7-foot-3 wunderkind.
“He’s improved a lot for sure, but he’s also just 18 years old,” said SBP president Al Panlilio during the Philippine Sportswriters Association online forum on Tuesday, February 2.
“We’ll remind everybody, he’s just 18. We can’t put too much pressure on him,” he continued. “He’s the future of Philippine basketball, for sure, but he’s also [still] developing as a player, as a person.”
Sotto raised some eyebrows from fans after he decided to play for Gilas Pilipinas for the final window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers in Doha, Qatar.
Slated to run from February 18 to 22, this window will coincide with the February 11 start of the NBA G League season and will be in conflict with Sotto’s commitment to the highly-touted Ignite select team.
Although many fans also praised Sotto for prioritizing country over club, Panlilio is still calling for a more united rally of support for the teenage sensation as he returns to the country this Tuesday night.
“Let’s take it easy on him. He’s already pressured enough,” he said. “He’s pressuring himself to do well, and all of us want him to do well, but let’s just support him in his journey.”
“This window is not a measurement of where Kai Sotto is or will be. Again, I see a really big and bright future for Kai.”
Whether or not his fans fully support him on his recent career choices, Sotto is here, fully committed to represent the country, and is set to practice in 5 to 7 days’ time with the national team. – Rappler.com
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