KAI Sotto shoutouts, tweets and posts flooded social media early this week after the
7-foot-2, 16-year-old son of a former PBA journeyman announced his plan to skip playing collegiate basketball here in the Philippines and pursue a dream of reaching the National Basketball Association.
There are encouraging ones like ‘‘S-KAI
is the limit.”
There are also stimulating ones like ‘‘KAI-ya mo ‘yan”.
And even motivating ones like ‘‘Sa Diyos ang awa, KAI SOTTO ang gawa.”
Whatever and however netizens and basketball fans say it online, they all show ‘heart’ for Kai, SOTTO speak.
JOURNEY
Kai Zachary Sotto is set to embark on an extraordinary journey. A journey to chase an elusive dream of playing in the NBA.
Many home-grown Filipinos had attempted in the past to make it there but not one had made it all the way.
But Kai is not like any other Filipino basketball player. Kai, in fact, is not like any other basketball player.
He is only 16 years old and he is already seven feet and two inches tall and still growing. He loves to play basketball and strives to be the best. He even has the skill set and the basketball IQ to go along with that towering height and that expansive reach.
However, mere height and talent are not an outright ticket to be drafted in the NBA.
He needs to bulk up and gain strength. Strength not only to bang bodies and jockey for positional advantage but strength to carry the entire weight of the basketball-crazed Filipino nation on his lanky shoulders.
RESPONSIBILITY
Kai, himself, is aware of the responsibility that he is carrying. He knows what the Filipino nation is expecting of him. He knows that in his every step of the way, he is bringing with him the aspirations of every basketball player in the country. And he knows that in his every decision, he is bearing the Philippine flag.
Maybe it is no coincidence that Kai was recently tapped by Ayala Foundation to be the ambassador for its Maging Magiting Flag Campaign that aims to distribute 10,000 flags to public schools in the country.
FLAGPOLE
Ayala Foundation president Ruel Maranan said Kai is the perfect person to advance the flag distribution project not just because he looks like a flagpole but because of his nationalism and love of country.
Actually, Kai does not mind being likened to a flagpole. That is because being that tall, people look up to you and Kai wants to be an inspiration especially to the kids.
Maranan personally gave Kai an official Philippine flag that the young center promised to bring wherever his dreams shall take him.
Kai also promised to hang the country’s tri-colors on his bedroom wall, of course, with the red side of the flag positioned on the right.
‘‘Kai values the opportunity. Now, that opportunity is equally a privilege. Meaning, ano man ang gawin mo, makakaapekto hindi lamang sa buhay niya but with all the other Filipino people watching and more than that, hoping,” Maranan said.
‘‘My appeal, actually, more than the pressure we are giving Kai, unnecessarily, let’s give Kai all the support to make it happen. Because as soon as he makes it big there, it is we Filipinos whom he is representing whether he likes it or not.”
Maranan also said it well: He’s got the right altitude and the right attitude.
And Kai credits this to his parents and family.
STRENGTHENING
Kai will train for two months in Atlanta with main focus on strengthening as part of his preparation for the FIBA World Cup Under-19 Championships to be held in June in Greece.
From there, he and his father Ervin will decide where to play and what to do.
“Hindi ko pa masasabi kung saan talaga maglalaro si Kai, puwede ring sa Europe dahil ang skill set niya ay nababagay naman sa European style of play,” said Ervin who suited up for six teams during his 8-year PBA career. “For now, concentrate muna kami sa strengthening ni Kai. Kailangan niyang magpalakas dahil malalaki rin ang makakaharap niya doon.”
NBA
The plan is for Kai to play either for a school in the US or a club in Europe and enter the NBA Draft in 2021 or 2022.
‘‘Siya lang ‘yung Pilipino na may chance na magpa-draft sa NBA, kaya sabi ko sa kanya ‘wag niyang sayangin ang opportunity na dumarating sa kanya. Although ‘yung chance niya maliit pero puwedeng lumaki dahil sa hard work, tamang program at sa suporta tulad ni boss Ronald (Mascarinas of Chooks to Go). So sabi ko sa kanya (Kai), ‘it’s up to you’,” added the elder Sotto.
Ervin is 6-foot-7 and his wife Pam is also a 6-footer. So, it isn’t unlikely that their eldest son would turn out to be a 7-footer.
What seems unlikely is that this lean giant is agile inside the playing court, can shoot from the perimeter and has the knack for playing defense.
Add to this his humility, discipline and sense of humor, you have a recipe of a superstar. Throw in a little sacrifice and a lot of hard work, Kai should be ready for the NBA in two or three years.
IDOLS
So who does he want to be in the NBA?
Kai said he sees himself in 7-foot-3 Latvian Kristaps Porzingis of the Dallas Mavericks because they are similar in stature and in style of playing. However, he now idolizes
7-foot Cameroonian Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers because according to Kai, “He is the best center in the NBA today.”
Ervin, on the other hand, thinks Kai can be the next Pau Gasol of Spain, who probably was the premiere big man in the NBA when he was still actively playing in the PBA.
But I believe Kai Sotto can hold his own in the NBA when the right time comes.
However, he needs to undergo the proper programs and get himself ready physically, mentally and emotionally. Who knows, he can be more magical than the Unicorn, can hurdle past The Process and definitely can get his own Meal Ticket.