After spending years of training, brief exposures in Australia and Japan and sitting out three Orlando Magic games, Filipino phenom Kai Sotto took only 13 minutes to show the best he could offer to an NBA team interested in his services.
Sotto finally made his debut in a Magic uniform even as his team lost to the Portland Trail Blazers, 88-71, in the NBA Summer League on Thursday.
“Impacting the game, defensively,” said Sotto when asked about his game, where he scored six points, hauled four rebounds and blocked three Portland shots and had one turnover in 13.23 minutes of play.
But is it enough? Hopefully, an NBA team that is weak in the middle, took notice.
“It’s the inside presence defensively. I’m the tallest player out there so I’ve got to help the team (defensively). Take (over) the paint when I’m there,” said Sotto during an interview with the media.
It was an impressive all-around game from a young guy, who remained focused and positive even as he sat out the first three games of the Magic team that included him in its 22-man lineup for the Summer League.
Despite not being given the chance to prove his worth in the first three games—to the disappointment of his thousands of Filipino fans—Sotto remained calm and focused. On Friday morning (Manila time), he got his chance and played to the delight of his fans, mostly Filipinos, all over the world.
“It’s a great feeling just to go out there and compete. We learned a lot from this game. I think we’re pretty good defensively. Just got to work out and get better’ added Sotto.”
All the while, Filipino fans all over the world and those who came to watch at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, have been cheering him on and bashing Orlando coach Dylan Murphy for not giving him the chance on the floor.
“To have a lot of guys cheering for you, it’s a blessing. I just had to do my part and show 100 percent effort every time,” said Sotto. “Hopefully, I made them happy and proud.”
“Go Kai’ We believe in you, Just Keep going,” said Joshua Bianan Abanilla, in one of the thousands of comments on the Orlando Magic page.
