Kai Sotto finally makes Australian NBL professional debut

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Filipino basketball sensation Kai Sotto just played his first professional game as a basketball player.

After a long stretch of game absences due to a sore knee, the seven-foot-three hooper was ready to don his Adelaide 36ers uniform against Cairns Taipans.

Despite the 67-93 loss by Adelaide, Sotto was able to log in some playing time to get his legs under him and prepare for the next set of games in the young Australian NBL season.

Sotto provided an all-around performance under 10 minutes, contributing one point, three rebounds, two assists, and two blocks.

The former NBA G-League player missed a total of eight games for Adelaide and is hoping to regain his usual playing time when his injury fully heals.

Sotto was signed by the 36ers to a two-year deal and is seeking to bring a championship to Adelaide before he pushes through with his ultimate plan of making it into the NBA.

The leftie giant was about to embark on his journey when he earned a spot in the NBA G-League team Ignite together with Jalen Green but Gilas Pilipinas duties kept him from officially joining the team.

Sotto will have the chance to improve his Australian NBL debut when Adelaide squares off against the Perth Wildcats on Tuesday, December 28.