Adelaide 36ers center Kai Sotto. Photo from Adelaide 36ers
MANILA, Philippines—Kai Sotto made his debut in the Australian basketball scene as he helped Adelaide escape Cairns in overtime, 91-87, in the National Basketball League Blitz preseason tournament Sunday at MyState Bank Arena in Tasmania.
The 7-foot-3 center finished with seven points, five rebounds, one assist, and one block in 17 minutes of play.
Sotto also had a hand late in the game as he gave the 36ers a 74-72 lead on a layup with barely a minute left in regulation.
The game went into overtime, 79-79 after Cameron Bairstow was called with an offensive interference on Stephen Zimmerman’s late tip-in.
Adelaide opened the extra period on an 8-0 run to take command and fend off the Taipans.
Sotto started the game and got his first field goal in Australia early in the second quarter when he drove for a two-handed dunk plus the foul to get a three-point play.
Daniel Johnson led the 36ers with 33 points and eight rebounds.