MANANATILING miyembro ng Gilas Pilipinas si Kai Sotto kahit pa nakatakda na itong naglaro sa NBA G League.

Ito ang tiniyak ni Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) president Al Panlilio sa gitna ng mainit na balitang nagsimula na ang hakbang ng  7-foot-2 na si Sotto ng kanyang pangarap para maging unang Filipino homegrown player sa NBA.

“Kai will be a huge part of the future of Philippine basketball so his success will be the success of the entire country’s too,” ani Panlilio.

Sa pagdiriwang ng kanyang ika-18 taong kaarawan nitong Linggo, lumagda na si Sotto ng kontrata upang maglaro sa NBA G League na inaasahang magiging daan upang makapasok siya ng NBA.

Kaugnay nito, nangako naman ang SBP ng buong pagsuporta kay Sotto.

“The SBP is one with all Filipino basketball fans in expressing our all-out support for Kai as he takes the next big step in his career,” ayon pa kay Panlilio.

“We had a frontrow seat in seeing Kai grow through our Gilas Pilipinas youth program, and we’re hopeful that his development will continue to further in the NBA G League not just as a basketball player but as a young man as well."

Sa kabila ng kanyang pagtupad sa kanyang ambisyon, hindi naman nakakaligtaan ni Sotto ang kanyang commitment sa Gilas youth team.

“Kai has been consistent in his commitment for Gilas. He remains part of our main core. He’s our future,” ayon kay Gilas Youth coach Sandy Arespacochaga.  MARIVIC AWITAN