Kai Sotto Eyes NCAA Route to the NBA — And He Might Miss Gilas Duty for It

The dream lives on. At 23 years old and standing 7-foot-3, Kai Sotto still hasn't given up on becoming the first homegrown Filipino to play in the NBA. But this time, he's taking a different path — one he probably should have taken years ago: the US NCAA college basketball route.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) president Ricky Vargas confirmed the plan on Monday: Sotto is preparing to join a US college team as a stepping stone to the NBA. "He's now preparing for the NBA again. He's preparing to join a college team. We understand. His dream is also our dream," Vargas said. "It's a big thing that we have a Filipino in the NBA."

Here's what makes this interesting: Sotto has been a pro for almost six years — NBL Australia, Japan B. League, three different teams. Normally that would disqualify someone from college ball. But the NCAA has recently opened its doors to former professionals, with players like Nigeria's James Nnaji (ex-FC Barcelona) now playing for Baylor and Canada's Charles Bediako returning to Alabama after G League stints.

The catch? This NBA chase could mean Sotto misses more Gilas Pilipinas duty. He hasn't suited up for the national team in over a year since tearing his ACL in January 2025, and he already skipped the recent FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers window. The SBP clearly wants him available, but Vargas admitted: "It's hard to fault him. It's not about the money. He wants to play in the NBA."

Another option remains the NBA Summer League — Sotto previously played for the Orlando Magic in the 2023 edition. But the NCAA route offers more exposure and development time. Either way, the Filipino basketball community is rooting for Kai. "It was never about money with him," Vargas said. Puso lang talaga. Good luck, Kai — the whole country's behind you.

Source: Rappler