Kai Sotto set for Japan B. League debut after signing with Hiroshima

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Filipino NBA aspirant Kai Sotto will be embarking on a new journey after leaving the Adelaide 36ers and the Australian National Basketball League (NBL).

The young rising superstar reportedly accepted an offer from the Hiroshima Dragonflies currently joining the Japan B. League and is set to make his highly-anticipated debut on March 8, 2023.

“We would like to announce that the Hiroshima Dragonflies have agreed on a new contract with Kai Sotto for the 2022-23 season,” posted the Japanese squad on their social media page.

Sotto’s addition to the already talented Dragonflies squad will provide more boost to their rotation and solidify their front-court personnel.

“I am grateful to the president, Nobuyoshi Ura, and GM Shuji Okazaki for giving me this opportunity. I look forward to meeting my teammates, staff and of course the fans,” said Sotto.

The seven-foot-three Gilas Pilipinas national team mainstay spent his last two years playing in the Australian NBL but failed to stay healthy due to several recurring injuries.

Despite his inconsistent minutes with the 36ers, Sotto proved he can still put up decent numbers and posted 6.81 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks per game.

Last year, the Filipino hopeful declared for the NBA Rookie Draft but wasn’t able to make it in all of the picking rounds.

The former Ateneo de Manila high school main man said that he will not stop chasing his dream and might go for a second shot once the Japan B. League undergoes their off-season.

After his B, League duties, Sotto will fly back to the Philippines and join his teammates at Gilas in their preparation for the remaining windows of the FIBA Asia qualifiers.