Kai Sotto. PBA IMAGES
As stellar as Kai Sotto has been in the 2017 Seaba Under-16 Championship, he only has one regret: his missed dunk in the Batang Gilas’ rout of Malaysia.
“It was unfortunate because in the last two games, I was able to do that,” he said in Filipino.
Forthsky Padrigao devised an impressive play late in the third quarter as he dished a no-look pass to an open Sotto below the rim. The 6-foot-11 young gun went for the slam but got blocked by the ring, robbing what could be another highlight play for the national youth cagers.
“I was surprised. I didn’t see the ring and when I got the ball, I got blocked. But that happens,” he said.
Still, that couldn’t dampen the Philippines’ 83-62 victory over Malaysia on Thursday to claim its fourth straight Seaba U-16 title.
“It was an honor being part of this lineup and being able to represent the Philippines, as well as teaming up with my teammates and coaches,” said Sotto, who finished with 15 points, 12 rebounds, and four blocks in the title-clincher.
The 15-year-old center also shared that he had no doubts that Batang Gilas would come away with the gold, noting that though the field did improve, the Philippines is still a cut above the rest when it comes to Southeast Asia.
“From the start, we knew we had to work hard to win. We were ready. Though Malaysia came out fighting, we did catch up and correct our mistakes in the end,” he said.
And as Batang Gilas gears up for tougher foes in the 2017 Fiba Asia Under-16 Championship later this year, Sotto knows that the national youth players must double their efforts if they want to make some noise in the continental tilt.
“We need to improve in all fronts,” he said. “We’re looking at our advantages and our disadvantages and we need to work on those.” IDL