Kai Sotto in action. FIBA photo
NBA-ready
IN THE eyes of Talk N Text assistant coach Josh Reyes, Kai Sotto could easily make it to the NBA.
Reyes believes the 7-2 Sotto has the skills and talents to become first Filipino player to play in the NBA.
“If you ask me, I think Kai could make it to the NBA. There’s no question about that. Maybe the only question now is whether or not he’ll be a rotation player or not,” said Reyes during the 126th edition of the “Usapang Sports on Air” by the Tabloids Organization in Philippine Sports (TOPS) last Nov. 4.
“Ibang klase na ang basketball IQ ni Kai. He is off-the-chart. Matangkad siya. But if you ask me what’s the biggest strength of Kai, i’ll say his court vision,” explained Reyes, who handled Sotto under the Batang Gilas sports program of the Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas (SBP)
“Ibang klase na yung passing ability niya, the way he sees the game. He is really next-level and because of that i believe he will get into the highest level of basketball.”
Reyes, son of TNT coach Chot Reyes, said Sotto’s experience in playing with the Adelaide 36ers in the Australia should help him get a taste of professional basketball.
“To me, ang kailangan niyang ma-experience ngayon ay yung professional game. Yung gugulpihin siya. His body needs to improve. He should be more physical,” explained Reyes.
“But it would take time because if you notice, we cannot compare Kai Sotto to the other NBA prospects who are African- Americans or Europeans because Asian bodies are developed differently and much later. At 18 years old, yun American might be equivalent to 21 or 22 years old Asian or Filipino. I think it’s just really body composition pero aabot din si Kai kahit medyo mas matagal.”
“If you notice a 34-year old NBA player, parang ang tanda-tanda na, hindi na makagalaw halos. Here in the Philippines, in the PBA, parang peak pa yun,”stressed Reyes, who also served as coach of FarEastern University.
Joining Reyes in the weekly public service program sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and Games and Amusements Board (GAB) and shown on Facebook Live are Talk N Text players Brian Heruela and Glenn Khobuntin.
