Kai Sotto to sit out 36ers’ NBL opener due to knee soreness

Adelaide 36ers center Kai Sotto. Photo from Adelaide 36ers

MANILA, Philippines—Kai Sotto’s debut will have to wait a bit longer after Adelaide announced on Thursday that the young center will not suit up for its NBL season opener against Perth.

The 7-foot-2 Sott  is suffering from knee soreness prolonging his absence from active competition, according to the 36ers.

This expected absence extended Sotto’s inactivity to five games after Adelaide head coach CJ Bruton shelved the Filipino international for the rest of the NBL Blitz preseason tournament.

Sotto has, so far, played just one game in Australia when he logged 20 minutes with seven points and five rebounds in the 36ers’ 91-87 win over the Cairns Taipans on November 14.

Other 36ers who will miss their season opener are Emmanuel Malou (knee soreness), Sunday Dech (quadricep), and Hyrum Harris (travel restriction).

Sotto, however, could still play in Adelaide’s home opener against the Illawara Hawks on Sunday.