Filipino Big Man Makes Long Awaited Debut

   The Philippines has multiple religions, including Roman Catholic, Christianity, Islam, and Protestant amongst their population. However, you can make the case that they also have another religion that can unite their 117.3 million people: basketball. That’s why hoops fans have been eager to see a Filipino-born player suit up in the NBA.

   While Jordan Clarkson of the Utah Jazz has been playing since 2014 and has suited up for the Philippines national team in multiple FIBA-sanctioned tournaments, there hasn’t been a native Filipino that’s played in an NBA game. Until Thursday.

Kai Sotto Makes Debut in Summer League

   After three straight DNP games with the Orlando Magic, the 21-year-old Filipino prodigy finally got his opportunity.

   In Orlando’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers, Sotto was subbed in during the second quarter. In his first five minutes in the NBA, he had two rebounds and blocked a shot to the delight of his teammates and the Filipino fans watching at the venue. He returned to action in the third quarter where he scored his first NBA field goal. 

   Across 13 minutes of action, Sotto, a product of the Ateneo High School basketball program, had six points, four rebounds, three blocks, and an assist. However, Orlando remained winless in four Summer League games. 

   Dylan Murphy, Orlando’s coach in the Summer League, lauded the young Filipino player for his solid efforts. “I thought he did well. He protected the rim,” Murphy said. “Credit to him for staying ready,” the coach added.

More Games for Sotto?

   The #LetKaiPlay hashtag dominated social media in the Philippines and abroad after the Magic’s first three Summer League games. Despite not playing a single second in the team’s first three contests, Sotto’s focus was to stay ready.

   “I’m just trying to show the coaches that I’m a good teammate and I’m a good player. I’ll be ready whenever they call my name. I’ll be the positive guy on the bench,” Sotto said in a video released by NBA Philippines. 

   His patience finally paid off and Filipinos are hoping for more minutes for their homegrown hero. For Sotto, his numbers in his first 13 minutes of NBA action are a glimpse of what he can bring on both ends of the floor. Skills he hopes to continue showcasing this Saturday against the Boston Celtics. 

   Standing 7’3” tall and weighing 232lbs, the 21 year old has an NBA ready frame that con contribute on the defensive end of the court in a rotational role today. With some NBA level coaching, and some work on his offensive game, he could become a tremendous pick and roll option for a team needing size in their front court.

The Las Pinas native is the son of former Philippine Basketball Association player Ervin Sotto. A 2x winner of the NBL Fans MVP award in 2022 & 2023, the towering centre says he models his game after Tim Duncan and Kristaps Porzingis. He’s suited up for his country at both the Junior and Senior levels with his most recent outing coming in 2021 for the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers.

   Sotto previously played for the Adelaide 36ers in the Australian NBL, where he averaged 6.8 points, and 4.5 rebounds per game, on 51% field goal shooting during the 2022-2023 season. He also has an ongoing stint with the Hiroshima Dragonflies in the Japanese B.League.

   Prior to turning pro, he played in the NBA G-League for the G-Leage Ignite. Sotto had been recruited by several Div 1 schools, including Auburn, Georgia Tech, and Georgia. However he ultimately opted to go the G-League route rather than attend college stateside. Sotto entered the 2022 NBA Draft where he went undrafted before becoming an unrestricted free agent. 

   If the Orlando Magic or any team signs Kai Sotto to a full time NBA contract, they’d be adding tens of millions of basketball fans overnight. It wouldn’t be that dissimilar to how the Houston Rockets instantly became the most popular team in China when they added Yao Ming to their roster.

   While he remains a long shot to make the Magic’s opening night roster, if he’s able to string together some more strong performances, he could be a candidate for a two way contract this fall.

-Iggy Gonzales

Photo: Phenom Hoop Report. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

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