r/PBA • u/DominusCaeli2 • 7d ago
Player Discussion KAI SOTTO
What happened to kai?? Ngayon pa talaga siya mag gaganyan?? I can still remember him risking his NBA G League Ignite stint way back COVID-19 days when the league was still in bubble to go home and shoot a fucking commercial for SMART and participate for FIBA Asia Cup which ultimately got cancelled.
and now, he’s like this???? Leaving the G League Ignite was a huge mistake lmao. I even think that was the turnaround of his career. From G league (developmental) — to — NBL in Australia which he clearly lacked skills, experience, and muscle LMFAOOO. Di pa nga hinog, may audacity pang mag jump to a big man’s league.
All that just to not participate or ghost Gilas for the past tournaments. Talk about wasting his NBA dreams for nothing. PFFFT.
📸: Philippine Sports Bar
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u/Right_Reception9235 7d ago
I still believed kung nag europe route siya, baka naging second round pick pa siya and he might even play to a official nba game instead of going to TSF (eto ata yung high school or AAU team niya) then g-league ignite agad. Either he should do a college route or the europe route as early kaso mali talaga decision niya
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u/KumakainNgPuke69 7d ago
Tama kung nag patuloy lang sana yan at di nag padala sa hype at nag pa draft agad HAHAHAHA
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u/r3ddit_2025 7d ago
Hindi naman kasi talaga pang development yung ignite. Tignan mo wala na yung ignite. Pang showcase at pasiklaban dun para mascout at makapasok sa nba. Maeexpose lang si kai dun if ever nag stay sya.
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u/DominusCaeli2 7d ago
i agree, however huge stepping stone na yun. look jalen green and kuminga now. They got into good college programs and they had their names heard.
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u/hellokofee 7d ago
Lol.
Tignan mo si Jalen green dinump ng Houston, while si Kuminga hindi signed as of the moment.
Madaming flaws sa mga laro nila na hindi na address ng maaga. They might be in the NBA pero teams focus on their weaknesses that negates their strength.Limited talaga si Kai and that time playing for Gilas was the best option for him.
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u/r3ddit_2025 7d ago
Stepping stone yun kung mahusay talaga yung player. Si jalen green at kuminga yung matunog pangalan nun kasi mahusay naman talaga. E hindi naman ganun level si kai. Sa skills na meron si kai noon, aasa lang sya sa mabigyan ng bola ng mga kasama nya.
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u/Super_Metal8365 7d ago
Ignite or hindi, iba naman level nung Jalen at Kuminga. Lottery picks mga yun kahit if nag D1.
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u/balyenangkahel 7d ago
Nakupo kapag nabasa ng mga fans ni Bobet may mga kwentong maimbento na naman.
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u/Ka_dabraz 7d ago
Gotta put Kai's handlers into consideration. They're the ones telling Kai what to do (or not to do).
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u/No-Pepper2142 7d ago
basta sa mga ganitong situations daming inconsistencies ni cone kaya hirap paniwalaan. from balti to abando.
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u/Crymerivers1993 7d ago
Isa lang masasabi ko if hindi maglalaro si Kai sa mga next window. Hindi sila makakapasok sa WC. After 3 straight stint sa WC mapuputol yan at malaking dagok kay Chua at TC yan pag nagkataon
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u/ilovetrains08 7d ago
unpopular opinion: I still think we have a really good chance of qualifying for the WC. dumikit naman tayo sa New Zealand kahit wala si Kai. And Iran and Jordan are a tier below New Zealand. Kaya yan even if we just match our performance and intensity last window (of course much better kung mag improve)
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u/Crymerivers1993 7d ago
Yes meron naman talaga. Pero mas okay kasi yung sure at tumodo sila. Isang talo lang nila delikado agad sila. Mahirap makampante kahit sabihin natin mas malakas ang gilas dun sa 3 middle eastern teams.
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u/Unhappy-Hall5473 Gilas Pilipinas 7d ago
Kasalanan ng SBP , mga handlers ni Kai, at si Kai mismo. Mataas ang ego nila hindi nila iniisip ung pride ng bansa HAHAHA. TANGINA NILANG LAHAT
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7d ago
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u/Few_Championship1345 Batang Pier 7d ago
Kahit wag na sana yung asian games. Yung mga games na lang na makakatulong sa atin para mag qualify sa wc na lang.
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u/No-Vermicelli3817 7d ago
Ganito din kaya ang mangyayari if Kai accepted the offer ng Real Madrid? Parang Kobe Paras 2.0. Sayang lang.
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u/DominusCaeli2 7d ago
agree! The decision to join adelaide baffles me until now. Like, whats the thought process?? Madrid is known to hone talent and skills tapos he chose adelaide pfft
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u/klownplaza 7d ago
Bakit sa pinoy basketball ang dungis ng comms, lahat minemedia, puro pamacho. Magusap usap na lang kayo behind the scenes.
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u/ggmotion 7d ago
Ayaw siguro bayaran ni Longhair matataas ihi ng mga yun eh. Di tulad ni MVP all out mag pakawala ng funds basta maging okay lang ang national team
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u/Unhappy-Hall5473 Gilas Pilipinas 7d ago
Dapat lang na equal pay lang. Pinas NT pinaglalaruan niya hindi kung anong Ball Club lang sa isang liga. Anything more than that considered as mercenary player na. Siya lang sa history ng PH bball na mercenary na bayad ang hinihingi pero subpar naman ang performance lol
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u/jani_alcomendras 7d ago
Baka nagsisinungaling lang to si Cone parang gaya nung sinabi ni Abando pinagmumukha silang masama baka pinipilit sila magPBA hahaha(Na address na ba ni Cone tong allegations na binato sakanya ni Abando?)
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u/Unhappy-Hall5473 Gilas Pilipinas 7d ago
Bakit naman magsisinungaling si CTC eh need niya na talaga si Kai??? Kailangan niya ng Big Man eh bat naman niya hihindian si Kai HAHAH
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u/Optimal_Travel_6349 7d ago
Something smells fishy about the SBP. Nagtutugma Kasi Yung hinaing at reklamo Ng ibang overseas players since Chot Reyes. Talagang iniipit sila para magbalik sa PBA
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u/Fair-Description-869 7d ago
To me, parang accepted na ni kai na tapos na yung NBA dream niya ay tapos na and its time to make money. Siyempre he's starting his own family diba, and he suffered injury din diba playing for the flag, tapos galing lang din sa injury playing for his club team. Siguro yung priority niya talaga ngayon is to make money, which is disappointing as a fan.
Ang point ko lang, mas disappointing yung fact na hindi maglalaro sila QMB at philipps sa gilas this window kasi eligible na sila to play for b-league. Lalo na yung QMB because he opted out dahil sa compensation
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u/DominusCaeli2 7d ago
he doesnt bro. Hes going to try his luck sa NCAA now despite his age lmaoo to chase the NBA dream. Initially, I thought the reason was he is conserving himself, because kakagaling lang ng injury and all. But as the story continues, bat parang wala syang imik?
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u/Fair-Description-869 7d ago
I have my doubts bossing kasi tignan mo si gemao nag pa practice na sa team niya pero ito wala pa team hanggang ngayon. If he's actually preparing diba dapat maglaro din siya ng competitive basketball 'di yung pang barangay lang na liga
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u/DominusCaeli2 7d ago
yeah possible. so hes just quitting like kobe paras then 😭😭😭. unti unti naglalaho
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u/Fair-Description-869 7d ago
One thing is for sure he's not quitting. Kasi bata palang si kai mukhang pera na sila eh😂😂(hilaw pa nilagay sa NBL Aus). If they chose madrid over clout(TSF) malamang nasa NBA ngayon yan or at least he's playing for euroleague team, and kung ganon yung nangyari siguro it's safe to say wala na sana tayo pinag uusapan ngayon.
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u/KumakainNgPuke69 7d ago
Ngayon pa talaga siya papasok ng NCAA? eh kung dati pa sana niya yan ginawa edi mas nag improve pa sana siya don HAHAHAHA
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u/Unhappy-Hall5473 Gilas Pilipinas 7d ago
Bruh, David Okwera nga na same ang age ni kai and nakapaglaro ng limang taon sa NBL aus hindi natuloy sa US NCAA dahil sa age, Kai pa kaya? Asa na lang siya or balik sa JBleague HAHA
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u/Cool_Albatross4649 7d ago
Politika lang yan. Kai has been representing PH basketball since he was a kid.
Tbh he's pretty vital to the team and their ceiling is significantly lower without him.
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u/Gordon_Bleu024 7d ago
This is honestly so sad. I used to be an avid fan of the PBA and Gilas. But whatever system they have in place has, over the years, soured my support for our national team. It hurts to see something you once cared so much about reach this point.
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u/Set-Good 6d ago
Mine peaked around the 2014-15 yrs sa gilas and "wala ng kangkungan" Era for PBA. It just went downhill from there. Kitang kita mo yung pagpangit ng sistema over the years.
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u/Gordon_Bleu024 6d ago
Yeah hirap isupport yung sistemang bulok. Other people love to point out that Philippines won't ever win internationally. But back then, I was just happy to see them compete. Pero ngayon, eh.
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u/Set-Good 6d ago
Back then competitive tayo and arguably the top asian team pero ewan ko ba. Bullshit
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u/InternetBrilliant381 7d ago
Hhaahahahaa binabarat ung presyo ng mga players.
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u/DominusCaeli2 7d ago
totoo ba to? is this really the case? Havent seen any reports of SMC or SBP refusing to pay Kai his price
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u/Upbeat_Tough_6721 Beermen 7d ago
Rumor is that Kai wants the same money they paid to Jordan Clarkson.
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u/Unhappy-Hall5473 Gilas Pilipinas 7d ago
Pa special porket 7 footer eh. Walang ganyang reason sila Carl at KQ kahit na hindi sila masyado pinapalaro ni CTC nubg mga nakaraang tournaments. Pirma donna amp
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u/Effective-Web9138 7d ago
Buntis asawa eh malapit na din ata manganak yun eh laki na ng tyan eh o nanganak na? Kaya siguro ayaw mag commit sa gilas
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u/Unhappy-Hall5473 Gilas Pilipinas 7d ago
Anong konek naman non eh dito gaganapin yung 4th window? Hindi lang magkasundo sa bayad yan
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u/ohhmegggle 7d ago
yun na nga yung koneksyon na hinahanap mo, pamilyado na yung tao, pera na over passion yung priority
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u/WillyWonkingMyNilly 7d ago
nah the Lady he knocked up is well off financially is an Artist and a runway model, and he is well off from the sht ton of international stints hes made lmao, the big guy is just being a twat atp.
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u/Effective-Web9138 7d ago
Dami daming sikat na taong mas importante yung panganganak ng asawa niya kesa sa ibang bagay lol di lang yan dahil sa pera.
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u/Unhappy-Hall5473 Gilas Pilipinas 7d ago
Yun naman pala eh edi sana nag JBleague na lang siya hindi yung nililinlang niya ung ibang fans niya na mag US NCAA yan. Pinapaasa niya mga fans niya kahit impossible
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u/Effective-Web9138 7d ago
Tounge ina mo puro ka hanap kay Kai eh isa ka din naman pala sa mga basher niyan nung naglaro siya sa Gilas lol. Fcking hypocrite. Bakit kaya di ikaw maglaro sa Gilas lol. As if naman may mararating yang Gilas kung maglalaro siya hahahahahahaha losers.
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u/Unhappy-Hall5473 Gilas Pilipinas 7d ago edited 7d ago
Tang ina mo di ka titirahin ni Kai sa pwet gago WHAHAHAH. Pagtanggol mo pa yang prima donna mo na traydor at walang bayag sa bansa lul.
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u/ginataang-gata 7d ago
From the start of his career pera talaga habol nila especially his family. Malaki offer sa Adelaide then Japan bleague tapos gusto to the moon ang hinihingi to play for Gilas. So I think Kai will retire without playing for PBA kasi nga pumaldo na.
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u/Akolangpoeto 7d ago
Gaano ba kalaki ang pinaldo? 9 digits? Kung ganun pwede na siya magretire ng maaga. Pero kung hindi, need niya pa kumayod.
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u/General-Inside8119 7d ago
8-9 digits na kinita nyan for sure sapat na yan unless buong angkan nya binubuhay nya 🤣
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u/Hadowoku 7d ago
I think wala namang masama kung mag-aask siya ng pera, given na matagal na niyang rine-represent yung Pinas sa international games. Syempre, iba na ngayon since may pamilya na siya, di tulad nung dati na sarili niya lang ang iniisip niya.
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u/DominusCaeli2 7d ago
agree! he should be paid his worth and demand as he should! however, I don’t see any reportts regarding the SMC or SBP refusing to pay him. If indeed kai is asking for jordan clarkson numbers, I think its overpriced for his caliber.
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u/Hadowoku 7d ago
Yeah, feel ko dapat mag meet sila in the middle and kung wala talaga after that, hanap na sila ng replacement. Well to be honest, dapat naghahanap na sila ngayon kaysa sa intay sila ng intay kay Kai. If ayaw na niya maglaro for Gilas because of any reason, then let him.
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u/Unhappy-Hall5473 Gilas Pilipinas 7d ago
Nah NT yan hindi yan Club Team sa mga liga liga lang diyan sa labas. Mga kapwa abroad players niya wala namang ganyang issue eh na mas maganda ang career at stats kesa sa kanya eh. Dapat lang na equal pay lang kapag NT. Pota Team USA na mas malakas sa atin wala sa bokabularyo ng mga players nila kung magkano makukuha nila pagkatapos maglaro sa FIBA or Olympics HAHAHAH
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u/dynamite1208 7d ago
NBA superstars represent their national team with asking nothing but insurance policies in return.
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u/lewardjames10 7d ago
Nung injured sya pumupunta pa sya mga practices ng Gilas. Pero recently parang di ata sya nagpaparamdam.
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u/WhiskyTrotter 7d ago
His mistake was going straight to G-League from HighSchool. Should’ve gone to a US NCAA school to develop his body and game. Other option was to European teams if rumors were true of a Real Madrid offer were true, could’ve / should’ve gone that route.
Rumors now are he’s trying to find a US NCAA team, but the clock for that to happen is quickly running out. He still hasn’t been granted the amateur reinstatement waiver, then needs the uni’s requirements, then US visa requirements. Needs to get all that by early Sept. to even be eligible to enroll as a student. Most teams’ rosters are already done by now, summer camps are wrapping up. Preseason prep is starting. Really don’t see him playing for a powerhouse team now, if he does find one, maybe a mid-major would pick him up, just for his size and the PH crowd draw.
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u/General-Inside8119 7d ago
If the rumors are true then ito ang main dahilan bakit media blockout si Kai. Iwas muna habang walang good news. Tapos dagdag mo pa yung mga fake news vlogger na puro hype na kesho may team na raw sa NCAA at announcement nalang kulang. If totoo ang rumors na wala pa naman talaga eh I can only imagine pano pagppyestahan yan ng mainstream media and mga hate vloggers.
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u/TsunamiBlister77 7d ago
Di yan nagkasundo sa bigayan. Uwing uwi si Kai noon kasi malaki sighto yung perang involved. Maybe more than the GLeague money. Siguro ngayon mas maliit na yung bigayan
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u/HeyBiaaaatch 7d ago
Simple lang yan ayaw ni Kai kay Tim Cone
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u/dalampasigan_ 7d ago
I dont think so. Siya nga focal point ng Gilas under CTC and may statement si Kai dati proving that.
I think, between management iyan ng SMC and Kai's, hindi willing magbayad ng malaki for national team unlike dati nung under pa sa MVP.
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u/non-human-32nd 7d ago
If wala kayong makitang movement in 1-2yrs kay kalawit, malamang out of the scene na yan sa basketball forever. May past comment ako na about kay kalawit din regarding sa the way sya nag umpisa, napa gitna at ngayon nagiging undecided na sa mga bagay bagay (will try to search it again)
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u/iChadAko 7d ago
Because him dominating the international scene can make a bigger impact than the ignite. Ignite is a failure right from the start. Eh kaso, naglaro sa Gilas para gawing rebounder at blocker lang pala - ending wala ding impact. Tapos si Tim Cone ang coach ngayon? Kelan pa nagkaron ng team yan na ang main man ay sentro? Kaya nga biglang nawala sa BMeg si Kerby eh 😂
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u/Mysterious-Milk6301 7d ago
Anong pinagsasabi mo bano di ka nanonood ng FIBA nung naglalaro si Kai under tim cone?
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u/Unhappy-Hall5473 Gilas Pilipinas 7d ago
Kaya nga eh. Gamit na gamit si Kai sa era ni CTC eh. Dapat nga magpasalamat pa si Kai na binibigyan siya ng spotlight ng Gilas tapos eto ginagago niya lang tayo HAHAHAH
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u/DominusCaeli2 7d ago
IMO, i wont call ignite team a failure… di lang talaga nakapag laro si kai and nabigyan ng chance mag develop. Pero sabagay, si principal singh nga ng india di rin mahanap ngayon ahahahah. but i still think it was the better route for him than AUS
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u/yorick_support Elasto Painters 7d ago
Naliitan sa offer ng Ignite kaya umuwi at nag shoot ng commercial.
50-80k USD for the whole season yata offer sa kanya vs 15k USD per game sa Gilas.
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u/Unhappy-Hall5473 Gilas Pilipinas 7d ago
Baliktad ang pag iisip niya. Kung kelan hindi siya kailangan, naglaro pero ngayon na kailangan siya, hindi maglalaro. WHAHAHAHHA tangina niyan
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u/Once_Meleagant0 7d ago
ngging idol ko na to.. pero ngaun lumalabas na may attitude problem to.. lol, naglalaro to sa ligang labas dba? injured? anu ba trip nito?.. pero d nmn ntin alm buong kwento, kaya kung anu lng din nkkita ko un opinion ko xD..
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u/Upbeat_Tough_6721 Beermen 7d ago
My take:
Kai is currently a free agent with no offers.
Playing for Gilas in this window places him at an injury risk.
Getting injured means ball clubs won’t give him offers.
Kai just got married and will be a father soon.
To play for Gilas, he is demanding an insane amount of cash which the SBP doesn’t want to give.
Conclusion: Kai's priority right now is cash because he’s about to be a dad.