Adelaide 36ers center Kai Sotto. Photo from Adelaide 36ers
MANILA, Philippines—Kai Sotto showed a glimpse of what he’s capable of in his season debut for the Adelaide 36ers in the NBL on Saturday.
The Filipino center only saw 10 minutes of action off the bench and finished with a point, three rebounds, two assists and two blocks.
KAI S🚫TT🚫
The @Adelaide36ers big man standing tall on debut tonight 🇵🇭#NBL22 live on @ESPNAusNZ and @kayosports 📺 pic.twitter.com/s53fqrvkRt
— NBL (@NBL) December 18, 2021
Kai Sotto with a hard no.#NBL22 on @ESPNAusNZ and @kayosports 📺 pic.twitter.com/A8ccwzREE9
— NBL (@NBL) December 18, 2021
Sotto, 18, missed Adelaide’s first four games due to knee soreness.
“I thought his effort was good,” said Adelaide coach CJ Bruton of Sotto. “He competed and battled.”
“He’s got some work to do, it’s not like he’s got some runs since that first preseason game so we’re definitely managing him and not give him too many minutes as early as we want him for the whole season. I’m sure that you’re gonna see bigger and better things out of him the more he gets comfortable playing,” he added.
After a tough loss on the road we hear from @Adelaide36ers head coach CJ Bruton and Todd Withers #NBL22 pic.twitter.com/ziyHAnuH5J
— NBL (@NBL) December 18, 2021
His debut, however, was spoiled by the Cairns Taipans, who steamrolled the 36ers, 93-67, at Cairns Convention Centre.
Majok Deng and Tahjere McCall led the way for Cairns, which improved to 2-1.
Deng had 23 points and seven rebounds while McCall stepped up in the absence of Scott Machado, posting 13 points, five rebounds, nine assists and five steals.
The 36ers (2-3), who entered the game with a two-game streak, return to action on December 28 against the Perth Wildcats.