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| Fil-Australian Ethan Kirkness and Kai Sotto. FIBA.com |
MANILA, Philippines – The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas welcomes 2017 hopeful of bright prospects, including one for the Batang Gilas team to be bannered by two young behemoths in Kai Sotto and Fil-Australian Ethan Kirkness.
Batang Gilas team manager Andrew Teh said Sotto and Kirkness, though only 14 at present, will be included in the Phl roster to be fielded in the 2017 FIBA Asia under-16 juniors championship.
Sotto at 6-foot-10 and Kirkness at 6-9 will provide length and ceiling that the Philippines has never enjoyed in the past Asia 16-under tourneys.
“They’re just turning 15 but we feel it’s ideal for them to play for our boys team now for them to get used to international play this early,” Teh told The STAR. “These two boys will be our twin towers in the future.”
“It’s not every day that you see kids as tall as Kai and Ethan,” Teh also said. “So we don’t want to waste the opportunity.”
Sotto is son of former PBA player Ervin who had his stint in the Phl youth team and the men’s team in the late 90s. The young Sotto is now training with the Blue Eaglets.
Kirkness is a Fil-Aussie with a Philippine passport and thus eligible to suit up with Batang Gilas. He is now in the country, being trained one-on-one by San Beda conditioning coach Jop Cleofas.
In Gold Coast, Kirkness attended training under former Brisbane Bullets player Greg Fox.
“They’re improving,” said Teh of both Sotto and Kirkness.
Still up in the air is who will call the shots for the Batang Gilas team with officials of the Philippine Secondary Schools Basketball Championship volunteering to support the team.
Jumbo Plastic Linoleum owner Jimmy dela Cruz, Rain or Shine co-team owner Terry Que head the PSSBC board that includes Rudy Yu of Dickies Underwear, Dioceldo Sy of Blackwater Sports, Leoncio Chua of MEC Networks, Jimi Lim of Ironcon Builders, Dr. Cecilio Pedro of Hapee Toothpaste and Eduard Tio of Freego.
SBP president Al Panlilio and the PSSBC board are still working on the sponsorship agreement.
The PSSBC event now serves as the season finale among top teams from the UAAP, NCAA and Fil-Chinese federations. - By Nelson Beltran /Philstar
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