ni MARIVIC AWITAN

Nanatili ang nauna na commitment ni Kai Sotto sa Philippine men’s basketball team sa kabila ng kanyang naging paglagda ng kontrata para maglaro sa Adelaide 36ers ng Australia National Basketball League.

Muling inihayag ni Sotto ang kanyang kahandaang tumugon sa sandaling kailanganin ng national team mula sa kanyang training camp sa Kaiju Academy sa Hamilton, Ohio.

Sinabi rin ni Sotto na nakahanda syang maglaro para sa Gilas Pilipinas sa 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers na idaraos sa Clark, Pampanga sa Hunyo 16-20.

Romualdez, pinasalamatan tennis player na si Alex Eala

Napili na pinakabagong Smart Communications Inc.’s (Smart) ambassador, sinabi rin ni Sotto na handa syang maglaro sa darating na FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament na gaganapin sa Belgrade, Serbia sa Hulyo.

“Playing for the national team is the top goal of any athlete,” pahayag ni Sotto sa ginanap na online press conference ng Smart.

“We’ve been following Kai for a long time, since his Ateneo and Batang Gilas days,” ayon naman kay Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio na sya ring presidente at CEO ng Smart Communications Inc. “He can really be the future of Philippine basketball.”

“He’s only 18 years old, but he’s achieved so much, and we’re rooting for him as he achieves his goals,” dagdag ni Panlilio. “He represents and inspires the youth to live big on their passions. He shares his journey to his followers while pursuing to fulfill his career goals at such a young age.”

Nagpasalamat naman si Sotto sa patuloy na pagsuporta sa kanya ng Smart partikular sa kanyang ambisyong maging unang purong dugong Filipino na makapaglaro sa National Basketball Association (NBA).

“Smart has been there for me since my high school career, that’s where it all started. I’m thankful that my goal and Smart’s goal is the same – to inspire the next generation of young Filipinos,” ani Sotto.