Kai Sotto, 36ers take advantage of extended break

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

MANILA, Philippines—Adelaide coach CJ Bruton thinks the extended break benefitted Kai Sotto, who was dealing with knee soreness heading into the National Basketball League season.

Sotto missed the 36ers’ first four games before making his debut on December 18 with a loss to the Cairns Taipans in a game where he only played less than 10 minutes.

The Filipino center, however, hasn’t played since with the NBL plagued with a series of postponements due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The seven days off our feet I think hurt a lot of our players when we were behind closed doors, but he’s (Sotto) definitely come back,” Bruton said on the team website.

“And as he has all off-season and since I’ve been here, he has shown his ability to impact the game not only on the defensive end but also the offensive end.”

Bruton sees the 7-foot-2 Sotto able to provide significant contributions around the rim with his size and he hopes it could be on full display when Adelaide returns to action.

The 36ers are set to finally see action against the Perth Wildcats at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Tuesday.