Kai Sotto marks Gilas Pilipinas debut during face-off vs Team Lebanon

For Friday’s game, Coach Yeng gave Sotto the opportunity to suit up for the final tune-up game before the fifth window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers. (Photo: Chooks-To-Go/Facebook)

Gilas Pilipinas tried to redeem themselves once again during a tuneup game in preparation for the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, this time facing Team Lebanon last Friday, November 23 at the Epsilon Chi Center in the University of the Philippines (UP). Although the Filipino team lost at 71-60, Head Coach Yeng Guiao was still pleased with how his boys performed, especially with the youngest member on the team – 16-year-old Kai Sotto.

The 7-foot-2 sensation was unable to participate in the past few practices and games due to his academics in Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU). However, for Friday’s game, Coach Yeng gave Sotto the opportunity to suit up for the final tune-up game before the fifth window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers.

Sotto only saw action in the last five minutes left of the third quarter, notably scoring two free throws and attempting a dunk on Lebanon center Ater Majok. Yet, despite his limited time on-court, Sotto reports that he’s “super happy to have the opportunity to play, even having minutes on court, that only happens in my dreams!” adding, “If you’re just 16 years old and then you play with and against these players, I couldn’t think of anything other than excitement. Maybe others would get nervous but for me, I was just really excited. I just thought about what I’m going to do on the court.”

For Sotto, one of the most memorable moments of his game was when he got to interact with Lebanese big man Majok, who even gave him some tips mid-game. Sotto reported in Filipino, “[Majok] told me that I was even longer than him. If I don’t stay low, that’s where he has an advantage over me,” even stating, “We all know that [Majok] does it all for his team. As much as possible, even if I’m not the star of my team, I did my best to stop him. I back-stopped and pushed him. He told me, ‘Easy young fella.”

Gilas Pilipinas ended their tuneup series 1-3. Kai and his teammates will be facing the actual fifth leg of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers as they battle it out with Team Kazakstan on Friday, November 30 and Team Iran on Monday, December 3.