CENTER Kai Sotto got the minutes he was expected to play and delivered last Sunday night– although Gilas Pilipinas fell to Angola 70-80 in Group A action of the 19th FIBA World Cup.
“I mean, after the first game, especially, one-minute lang ako naglaro, tiningnan ko talaga kung ano iyong ginawa ko sa court, and tiningnan ko iyong mga pagkukulang ko,” Sotto said. “Nag-focus lang ako sa mga kaya kong kontrolin.
“Kaya iniisip ko lang na next game, babawi ako every time na mag-i-step ako sa court, bibigyan ko ng more trust iyong sa coaches ko kapag pinaglaro ako,” he added.
The 7-foot-3 Sotto saw action for 19 minutes and 33 seconds, notching eight points, six rebounds, and one assist, a far cry from his one minute and 13 ticks stint in the nationals’ 81-87 defeat to world No. 23 the Dominican Republic on opening day four days back.
National coach Chot Reyes did not pull out Sotto in the game even after the NBA hopeful committed two early fouls in the first half.
“We liked the matchups that we had inside so we felt even though he had two fouls, we could keep him inside because there was a guy that we felt that Kai could match up well against,” Reyes said. “As against the Dominican Republic, he was going to be forced to match up with Karl-Anthony Towns, so it was really a difficult matchup for us.
“That’s it. It’s a game of matchups and personnel so we thought that Kai could stay longer.”
Sotto, 21, vowed the Philippine five will bounce back.
“I think maganda iyong fight back namin. I think, noong first half, dikit lang iyong laban tapos noong third quarter, may mga lapses kami, mga turnovers, naka-run sila,” Sotto said.
“So, medyo nahirapan kami bumalik. Especially during the World Cup, we can’t afford iyong mga runs na ganoon. So, I think, proud pa din ako sa team namin.
“Iyong fight back namin noong last few minutes, I’m proud of the team’s effort. Kailangan lang talaga bumawi next game. Tingnan namin kung ano iyong pagkukulang namin dito and then we’ll bounce back.”
