Kai Sotto Thread

[CoJ2]

Yeah. They are spending too much time making him always relevant. The f*ck.

I see the Italian bigs running circles around him while the Dominicans will just make him a rag doll.

the summer league is a preview of Kai’s performance against Italy and DR, his failure to defend the pick and roll and close out will be abused.

Though i expect him to play great against Angola similar how JMF played against Senegal in 2014 (or am i underestimating Angola)

Chot being part of EWP makes thing worse, they turned it to a media circus, are they creating a narrative that Kai is the missing piece for Gilas? way to kill team chemistry

 

[Jupitersa2]

Nothing new with Kai.

Remember in 2021 where he prioritized playing glorified pick up games in Miami instead of training with Gilas? And then he arrived extremely late, had to quarantine and only got to practice for a couple of days before the Korea games? Or the time he skipped the Jordan tournament and FIBA Asia Cup to "rest and prepare" for his rookie NBL season while its opening is still several months away? Nothing new.

The kid and his management is making a mockery out of everybody here. He doesn't even have half the talent Jordan Clarkson has but he's acting like a bonafide superstar. Heck, an injured AJ Edu is practicing with the team for months now. He even joined the Euro trip nursing an injury. Kai got benched in the Summer League, barely played, and now he still wants rest? Does the kid even know we're less than a month away from the World Cup? Chot being a JOKE coach aside. I applaud him for saying this.

Baldwin sets conditions for Kai Sotto's return to Gilas for qualifiers
https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/03/...for-kai-sottos-return-to-gilas-for-qualifiers

KAI SOTTO BEGS OFF GILAS DUTY IN KING’S CUP, FIBA ASIA CUP; TO GEAR UP FOR ADELAIDE 36ERS ASAP
https://thepost.net.ph/sports/overt...asia-cup-to-gear-up-with-adelaide-36ers-asap/

Kai Sotto begs off from Gilas' FIBA Asia Cup campaign
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/spo...-off-from-gilas-fiba-asia-cup-campaign/story/

 

[Silent Killer2]

Nothing new with Kai.

Remember in 2021 where he prioritized playing glorified pick up games in Miami instead of training with Gilas? And then he arrived extremely late, had to quarantine and only got to practice for a couple of days before the Korea games? Or the time he skipped the Jordan tournament and FIBA Asia Cup to "rest and prepare" for his rookie NBL season while its opening is still several months away? Nothing new.

The kid and his management is making a mockery out of everybody here. He doesn't even have half the talent Jordan Clarkson has but he's acting like a bonafide superstar. Heck, an injured AJ Edu is practicing with the team for months now. He even joined the Euro trip nursing an injury. Kai got benched in the Summer League, barely played, and now he still wants rest? Does the kid even know we're less than a month away from the World Cup? Chot being a JOKE coach aside. I applaud him for saying this.

Baldwin sets conditions for Kai Sotto's return to Gilas for qualifiers
https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/03/...for-kai-sottos-return-to-gilas-for-qualifiers

KAI SOTTO BEGS OFF GILAS DUTY IN KING’S CUP, FIBA ASIA CUP; TO GEAR UP FOR ADELAIDE 36ERS ASAP
https://thepost.net.ph/sports/overt...asia-cup-to-gear-up-with-adelaide-36ers-asap/

Kai Sotto begs off from Gilas' FIBA Asia Cup campaign
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/spo...-off-from-gilas-fiba-asia-cup-campaign/story/

Money talks for EWP..

 

[Sikatrix2]

The thing is, if we are to believe Homer, Kai already has his deal. In his deal though he shouldve started practice in the 24th and now he is backing off due to his back.

Personally it would be more understandable if he actually attended every practice while injured.

 

[Rds2]

I don't doubt Kai's back problem. It's possible he overexerted himself training for the summer league. I don't really know much about it. Correct me if I'm wrong but I heard plyometrics is a popular workout to improve leaping ability. I also heard some guys having back problems after plyo. So isn't it possible his back problems is from overdoing the plyo?

In any case it seems Kai is asking for 2 weeks rest. If we take his word for it, it means his back is not that good yet. If this means he misses the China tuneup, this is bad news. Instead of starting, he will be forced to come off the bench while he is still acclimating with the team. Chot would probably prefer to start Kai over Junemar but now his hand is tied. He can't start Japeth at C because he doesn't a tall PF. I don't think starting Edu is an option at this point. So this is bad.

 

[magic_chiongson2]

The thing is, if we are to believe Homer, Kai already has his deal. In his deal though he shouldve started practice in the 24th and now he is backing off due to his back.

Personally it would be more understandable if he actually attended every practice while injured.

for me this is just chot grandstanding again. he could simply reply in the interviews with something like"accdg to Kai's team he is still recovering from an injury and cannot join practice yet", but no he had to make the story as juicy as possible for the media. things they could have kept within the team until there is an official decision/announcement

 

[B L A C K S U N2]

This..

I don't agree much with Chot's interviews but he nailed it this time:

https://www.philstar.com/sports/202...earn-gilas-minutes-through-practice-says-chot

I don't like Chot and I still think he doesn't deserve to be the coach of our national team but I agree with him on this one. I don't know why Kai is displaying this type of antics, just show up to the practice even if you're not gonna participate. Christ, ilang taon nalang rarayumahin ng yung ibang mga players diyan sa team like Japs and Junmar and yet they still represent and go hard every game and practice. He barely played any minutes in Summerleague, I highly doubt this injury of his. Even if he does have one just show up like you truly care. This type of mentality is also one of the reason why he won't get far, acting like a megastar when he hasn't proved anything yet.

 

[thatweirdguy2]

the summer league is a preview of Kai’s performance against Italy and DR, his failure to defend the pick and roll and close out will be abused.

Though i expect him to play great against Angola similar how JMF played against Senegal in 2014 (or am i underestimating Angola)

Chot being part of EWP makes thing worse, they turned it to a media circus, are they creating a narrative that Kai is the missing piece for Gilas? way to kill team chemistry

Part of the reason JF played well was that he has the weight and heft advantage over the skinny Senegal team. Kai doesn't have that..

I'm starting to doubt his injury.. so if he plays we'll he's that good even when playing injured, if he plays bad , it's because he's been playing injured. MVPs have played with worse ailments SMH.

 

[r1ck2]

Im thinking that the NBA window for Sotto is not completely closed. But I think the only way he gets that call up is because of his marketability and large following. And with the new CBA making it difficult for teams to create super teams, Kai can be a candidate for one of those 2 way contracts on a loaded team looking to fill out their rosters. We already saw this with the chinese players and Sim Bhullar where teams signed them for marketing purposes. But if Sotto wants to be a rotation player in the NBA then he needs to work on his motor, defense and rebounding

 

[Sikatrix2]

for me this is just chot grandstanding again. he could simply reply in the interviews with something like"accdg to Kai's team he is still recovering from an injury and cannot join practice yet", but no he had to make the story as juicy as possible for the media. things they could have kept within the team until there is an official decision/announcement

Im sure they talked in private already. He felt the need for some public pressure.

 

[The_Big_Cat2]

Sotto’s lack of physical motor in the hard court is also showing in his mental aspect.

He also lacks the HUSTLE MINDSET. The ability to push forward above everyone else and never give up when faced insurmountable challenges like a mild injury.

He fails this grade badly.

If not for Chot’s public tirade on Sotto’s commitment, Kai would have not showed up in yesterday’s tuneup against Magnolia.

 

[magic_chiongson2]

He felt the need for some public pressure.

and there's the problem, chot loves doing this. He thinks he's phil jackson but without the subtlety. He's even done this before to guys with unquestionable commitment like dwight. I'm not even trying to defend kai here but chot just makes things worse every time

 

[DaBarkads1432]

If it is the only way to slap and punch Kai with the harsh reality, then Chot needs to do it. AJ Edu has been with Gilas almost a month before - talking about commitment. Kai needs to learn that not everything will be spoon-fed to him.

If we have other bigs then we don't need Kai... But w/ only Edu, Junmar and Japeth? That's bad idea if we left out Kai... I don't care if we left him out in Asian games, we can tap Rosser and Cstand back... But for FIBA WC? We have no choice but stick to Kai...

 

[Sikatrix2]

and there's the problem, chot loves doing this. He thinks he's phil jackson but without the subtlety. He's even done this before to guys with unquestionable commitment like dwight. I'm not even trying to defend kai here but chot just makes things worse every time

Honestly Kai is getting more leeway from Chot then from Tab.

 

[CoJ2]

feels like Kai’s window to the nba is getting smaller and smaller, new prospects with better credentials and skills are popping left and right (like spain’s 7’3 Aday Mara who is only 17 yrs old). And his batchmates are getting better, while Kai has minimal improvement to show off.

if he doesnt get signed by any nba team by next season I think its time to forget that nba dream and earn as much money as possible esp that centers above 7’1 have historically short careers

 

[greenarcher2]

LOL Homer Sayson changing his tune. Maybe the SL reality check knocked some sense into him.

From an unpaid Kai PR promoter to a basher ever since Kai's "camp" asked for 2 weeks rest.

Either he can play or not. All this suspense is reminiscent of Lebron staying or leaving. But this time, coming from a nobody....

 

[thatweirdguy2]

LOL Homer Sayson changing his tune. Maybe the SL reality check knocked some sense into him.

From an unpaid Kai PR promoter to a basher ever since Kai's "camp" asked for 2 weeks rest.

Either he can play or not. All this suspense is reminiscent of Lebron staying or leaving. But this time, coming from a nobody....

He'll definitely play. No way he'll risk facing the wrath of his fans and haters by not playing.

 

[Kaireem2]

for his sake kai should get into game shape asap since his first assignment will be against kat, if he more than holds his own in major minutes that might just earn him a training camp invite but if he plays so bad he might just fall off not only the nba radar but also lose interest from other international leagues as well.

i would also really want to see kai play the chinese in china at that, we all know the chinese are notorious for "home cooking" so i'd like to see how kai will deal with such adversity and the expected physicality to boot, the chinese bigs will surely give him more than love taps at home.

 

[greenarcher2]

for his sake kai should get into game shape asap since his first assignment will be against kat, if he more than holds his own in major minutes that might just earn him a training camp invite but if he plays so bad he might just fall off not only the nba radar but also lose interest from other international leagues as well.

i would also really want to see kai play the chinese in china at that, we all know the chinese are notorious for "home cooking" so i'd like to see how kai will deal with such adversity and the expected physicality to boot, the chinese bigs will surely give him more than love taps at home.

I think we are well beyond the expecting miracles point. No more surprises here. We tried our best to believe PeeZones that Kai is more suited in the NBA but now we all know with certainty that is complete and utter bullsh|t. He will not wake up one day and decide that he will outplay KAT.

But yes I also want to see him go up against Chinese bigs who move a lot like him. Another reality check for his Kainatics who think he is way above the Chinese.

 

[hmbopbaduwap2]

Homer Sayson tweets that Kai will not be joining Gilas in China