Sotto ends ties with 36ers, takes stuff elsewhere

MANILA, Philippines — John Kai Sotto is headed for a new destination after a fruitful stay in the Land Down Under.

The 7-foot-3 Filipino wunderkind said he’s taking his talents to a different overseas league after a two-year stint in Australia’s National Basketball League.

It’s still uncertain where Sotto is headed but he said it’s an opportunity for him to spread his wings wider and higher in a bid to unleash his full potential.

“A new opportunity for me is really good and another opportunity for me to play basketball, I’m excited,” said the 20-year-old center on the Adelaide 36ers website.

“I didn’t want to spend a lot of time not playing, I’m lucky I’ve been offered this deal.”

Sotto’s decision came in the aftermath of Adelaide’s yet another early exit in the NBL.

In his second year in the NBL, the 36ers finished at eighth place with a 13-15 record after a 116-107 defeat at the hands of former champion Melbourne United.

It’s the second playoff miss for Sotto and Adelaide in as many years after a seventh-place finish with a 10-18 card in his international pro league debut last season.

Sotto expressed gratitude to Adelaide and the NBL for the golden opportunity and for honing his growth through the years. The 36ers welcomed it and preached excitement for one of their proud stalwarts.

“Every season here (in Adelaide) I’ve got better and I’ll just keep on going from there,” Sotto said.

“It’s all about taking the next step for Kai and he will continue to grow as basketballer,” coach CJ Bruton shared.

Sotto, also a mainstay in Gilas Pilipinas, averaged 6.81 points and 4.48 rebounds on a 51-percent clip as Adelaide’s starting center for the majority of this season.