KAI Sotto has found a supporter in one of the Philippine basketball’s greats.
PBA legend and Philippine Sports Commission Commissioner Ramon Fernandez is convinced the 7-foot-3 Sotto made the right decision to toughen up in the United States.
“Ang masasabi ko lang, tama iyong ginawa niya na nagpunta siya sa States at doon siya nag-training,” Fernandez said last Tuesday in the online Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum.
“Frankly, since nag-retire ako noong 1994, hindi na ako masyadong nagfo-follow ng basketball in general so hindi ko masyado nakikita iyong mga atleta except for a few championship games na sumisilip ako,” he added.
While admitting he is not following basketball, Fernandez, 67, maintained Sotto can only get better abroad.
“As I said, tama iyong ginawa niya. He should look for the highest level of competition abroad,” Fernandez, a four-time pro league MVP and one of its 40 Greatest Players, said in the public sports program presented by San Miguel Corp., Go For Gold, Milo, Amelie Hotel Manila, Braska Restaurant, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., and powered by Smart and Upstream Media as official webcast partner.
“He can only find that in the States or in Europe, especially now that he’s growing in years. Tamang-tama iyan.”
Fernandez, who holds the PBA record of 19 titles won and ranks as the league’s all-time leader in points, rebounds, blocks, free throws made, and minutes played, said he also wanted to train overseas but it did not happen.
“When I was 18, I would’ve wanted to go to the States and train, pero hindi nga nasunod,” he said. “Tama iyong ginagawa niya (Sotto).”
Sotto was supposed to suit up for the pioneering Ignite squad in the NBA G League but botched it when he chose to return to the country and play for Gilas Pilipinas in the third window of the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers last February in Clark before it was canceled, and the hosting was given to Doha.
Doha’s hosting of the final window of the qualifiers was called off due to the outbreak of the new strain of the deadly COVID-19, however.
