Sotto to focus on Gilas World Cup duty after potential NBA Summer League stint

Once his potential stint in the NBA Summer League is over, Filipino NBA hopeful Kai Sotto said that he will shift his focus to his Gilas Pilipinas duties and the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Sotto, 21, is a member of the 21-man Gilas pool for the World Cup set in August. The global basketball showpiece is set to be co-hosted by the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia.

Kai Sotto FIBA PHOTO

“Summer League won't be a conflict in terms of scheduling before the World Cup. I think there'll be time,” Sotto said in an interview with PlayItRightTV.

“Right now, I'm focusing on these mini camps. I'm just about to focus all in on the Summer League, try my best to make it to the NBA. After the Summer League, I'm pretty much focused on the World Cup.”

Sotto has already participated in the camps organized by the Utah Jazz and the Dallas Mavericks. The 7-foot-3 cager has one more scheduled workout with the New York Knicks.

All these in a bid to make a team and participate in the NBA Summer League which will run from July 7 to July 17.

As important as his bid to make the NBA, Sotto said that possibly competing in the World Cup is going to be the biggest opportunity in his career by far.

“As a 21-year-old basketball player, I think it's going to be the biggest opportunity, biggest challenge, the highest level that I'm about to play so far in my career,” said Sotto.

“The best of the best in the world will be there playing. It gives me chills every time I think about it. Just very excited.”