Offers real, but dad says Kai Sotto will remain with Ateneo

STAYING PUT. Kai Sotto is not leaving Ateneo. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Kai Zachary Sotto has been dubbed as the future of Philippine basketball. And that’s exactly where he’ll be strutting his wares, at least for the moment.

Earvin Sotto, the former professional journeyman and Kai’s father, told the Inquirer that his 16-year-old son will continue to don the Ateneo Blue Eaglets colors in the UAAP juniors basketball wars.

Earvin added his family has rejected feelers for Kai to fly abroad and play there, but denied that there was a cash value attached to those offers.

The seven-foot-1 Kai powered the Blue Eaglets to the UAAP junior title over the NU Bullpups.

Kai and AJ Edu also formed a formidable combination at the post for Batang Gilas, which booked a berth to the Fiba under-19 World Cup in Greece after reaching the semifinals of the 2018 Under-18 Asian championship in Nonthaburi, Thailand.

It will be the second stint in the World Cup for Sotto, who averaged 16.4 points and 10.6 rebounds per game when the Philippines finished 13th in the 2018 U17 World Cup in Argentina.