Filipino basketball player Kai Sotto has declared for the 2022 NBA Draft to hopefully fulfill his ultimate dream.
Sotto announced via Instagram that he has declared for the 2022 NBA Draft on Apr. 28. In the post, he thanked the Adelaide 36ers for the opportunity they gave him as well as several people who supported and are close to the 7-foot-3 cager.
“I have declared for the 2022 NBA Draft. Please pray for and support me during my quest to fulfill my ultimate dream,” Sotto posted on social media.
SPORTS UPDATE: Kai Sotto declares for 2022 NBA Draft, thanks Adelaide 36ers for National Basketball League (NBL) stint. | (📸: Kai Sotto/Instagram) pic.twitter.com/kXERzSlMMd
— PTVph (@PTVph) April 28, 2022
One group that is backing the dream of Sotto is Smart Communications Inc. They are rallying behind their brand ambassador’s bid to become the first homegrown Filipino to be drafted into the NBA on June 23, 2022.
“As a basketball-loving country, it has always been a dream for Filipinos to see a homegrown player set foot on the NBA hardcourt. Today, we have come closer to realizing this as Kai aims to show the world what Filipino basketball players are made of: talent, skill, determination, and above all, PUSO,” PLDT and Smart President and CEO Alfredo S. Panlilio said.
Panlilio is also the President of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) and MVP Sports Foundation. He is also the Chairman of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 local organizing committee.
“As an advocate of Philippine sports and basketball, it is an honor for us at Smart to be part of Kai’s journey. From his varsity days in Ateneo and when he suited up for Batang Gilas in 2017 up to this point, we have always known that Kai’s NBA dream has always been bigger than himself, and we fully support his bid to fulfill it and inspire our nation,” Panlilio added.
Sotto, who has always been open about his NBA dream, has spent the past year at the National Basketball League (NBL) in Australia playing center for the Adelaide 36ers. (PR) – bny
