Kai battles the big boys

Pleased to share that Kai Sotto will be playing for us in Dubai.

KAI Sotto is set to test his mettle against full-grown.

Former Batang Gilas standout Kai Sotto will test his mettle against full-grown men from seasoned club teams in the Middle East as he joins Mighty Sports in the Dubai International Basketball Championship slated from 23 January to 2 February next year.

The teen basketball prodigy announced his return to local basketball in social media.

“I am super excited to be coming back to Manila next month for a week to train with Mighty Sports under Coach Charles Tiu,” Sotto posted on his Twitter account.

“We are going for the gold,” the seven-foot-two center added.

Tiu first made the announcement also in social media as he looks forward helping the 17-year old National Basketball Association prospect through this kind of exposure.

“Pleased to share that Kai Sotto will be playing for us in Dubai,” Tiu said. “Excited to be reunited with Kai.”

The second-generation cager is making waves in the United States as topnotch schools from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) are eyeing him.

Sotto recently visited University of Kentucky and the Atlanta-based Georgia Tech. DePaul coach Dave Leitao also paid him a visit at his home in Atlanta.

Aside from the Mighty Sports, Libya’s Al Ahli, Syria’s Alwathba Sports Club, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) national team and Alittihad Alexandria Club of UAE are also joining the tournament.

Meanwhile, Tiu cleared that Sotto’s stint with Mighty Sports won’t affect the latter’s eligibility in case he suits up in US NCAA.

“Just to be clear, this will not affect his NCAA eligibility at all. He is playing as an amateur. So hold your horses before passing any judgment people. Chill,” Tiu said.

Sotto is currently training with an Atlanta-based basketball squad, The Skills Factory.