By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Filipino Asian import Kai Sotto dazzled in his first home game since signing with the Hiroshima Dragonflies in the ongoing 2022-2023 season of the Japan B. League.
The seven-foot-three center wasted no time soon as his number got called up and put up an impressive 20-point performance during their 102-95 victory over the Kyoto Hannaryz squad last March 15, 2023.
Sotto was in his zone during the game and shot an efficient 9/14 from the field in just 22 minutes of action.
From his signature baby hooks in the left block to wide-open two-handed dunks, Sotto displayed his full offensive arsenal to go alongside eight rebounds.
Sotto wowed the crowd during his heat check in the second quarter when he knocked down a face-up perimeter jumper followed by a sweeping hook in the right block that answered Kyoto’s mini-scoring run.
Kyoto decided to apply soft double teams on Sotto at the start of the third frame which slowed his offensive production but still remained an asset inside the court due to his great vision.
Whenever Kyoto attempted to double him in the post, Sotto was quick to fire kick-out passes that opened up their shooters from the elbows.
Meanwhile, Matthew Wright, Sotto’s ‘kuya’ in the Gilas Pilipinas national team, balled out for the Hannaryz team and finished the duel with 26 big points, eight assists, two steals, and two rebounds.
The former Phoenix Super LPG franchise player waxed hot in the second half but failed to sustain his firepower in the last five minutes of the ball game.
