Ravena wants fans to ease up on the Sotto speculations.
There is plenty of speculation about Kai Sotto and his supposed intentions in as far as playing for Gilas Pilipinas in the FIBA World Cup this month.
Gilas veteran Kiefer Ravena, who has played with Sotto in various FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers, is not about to get caught up in all the talk. In fact, he is sure of one thing: Sotto wants to play. Unfortunately, he is dealing with an injury.
“He’s been present naman in some of the practices,” Ravena told News5’s Martie Bautista on Monday. “Siguro siya lang naman ang makakaalam what his body is going through. Pilitan niya naman o hindi. Pero ‘yun bata naman gusto niya maglaro para sa Pilipinas.”
Ravena also implored fans to let Sotto be as he deals with his back injury.
“Now that he’s here, hopefully everybody keeps their opinions to themselves at what Kai is,” Ravena added. “Kasi siyempre naa-ano naman din ‘yun bata. Hindi naman madali ‘yun pinagdadaanan niya at what transpired in the Summer League and went straight here.”
Sotto, of course, is coming off a rather uneventful stint at the NBA Summer League, where he logged three DNPs in the Orlando Magic’s first three games before giving a good account of himself in his debut game, where he recorded 6 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Unfortunately, his NBA Summer League campaign ended on a whimper, ostensibly due to a back injury that is apparently still ailing him.
The 7-foot-3 big man has reportedly asked for some time off before joining Gilas formally, which would mean he will have only about two weeks to practice with the team.
Ravena, however, had previously expressed confidence that Sotto will be able to catch up with Gilas due to the latter’s smarts. And as the waiting game continues, Ravena has one message to the big man:
“At the end of the day we’re behind his back. [We’re] rooting for him now that he’s part of the team.”
(GM)