MANILA, Philippines – Kai Sotto received a lot of praise for his performance against New Zealand, including a high compliment from teammate Justin Brownlee.
Brownlee said Sotto is “good enough to play in the NBA” after the 7-foot-3 big man helped power Gilas Pilipinas to a breakthrough 93-89 victory over the Tall Blacks in the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers on Thursday, November 21.
Sotto finished with 19 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 blocks, and 2 steals in an all-around effort that made it possible for the Filipinos to beat the Kiwis for the first time in FIBA competition.
“Man, I’ve been saying, I feel like he’s good enough to play in the NBA, in my honest opinion. Of course, he’s got the height, he’s got the size and the skill, [and] he’s been improving so much,” said Brownlee.
“For me, it’s just great to see a young player like him with so much potential and just seeing him start fulfilling his potential. And he’s got a long way to go. He’s only in his early 20s so I’m happy for his progression.”
Sotto picked the New Zealand defense apart with his passing as the Philippines — the No. 1 assist team in the tournament — dished out 25 dimes.
With Sotto thriving as a facilitator, the Filipinos enjoyed a balanced offensive attack highlighted by five players scoring in double figures.
Brownlee topscored for the hosts with 26 points, Scottie Thompson finished with 12 points, while Dwight Ramos and Chris Newsome chimed in 11 points apiece.
“He does a lot of things really well… He can do everything on the court,” said Browlee of Sotto. “It’s fun playing with him and he definitely makes the game a lot easier for everybody.”
The way Sotto, who is averaging 16.7 points, 11.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 2.3 blocks in the Asia Cup Qualifiers, has Brownlee intrigued about what is next for the 22-year-old star.
“I’m excited to see what the future holds for him,” said Brownlee. – Rappler.com