MANY have shown scrutiny over his performance in the NBA Summer League as a part of the Orlando Magic, playing only in two out of five games, the last of which he was reportedly unable to score due to back pain.
Fans have been reassured, though, that the injury is not that serious and is easily treatable.
According to Tony Ronzone of Sotto’s management team, all of his X-rays thankfully came back negative, and he will prioritize rest.
It remains to be seen, however, whether Sotto will be able to participate in the FIBA Basketball World Cup in August, which will be hosted by the Philippines along with Japan and Indonesia.
The 7-foot-3 center recorded two rebounds, one block, and one assist in his final game wearing a Magic jersey against the Bolton Celtics, who won the contest.
Those that judged this performance were quick to forget how he wowed with his first game with the team when they played against the Portland Trail Blazers, collecting a total of six points, four rebounds, three blocks, and one assist.
His career so far
Filipinos have looked up to Sotto ever since he was young due to his father being Ervin Sotto, a former member of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). Great things were quickly expected of him, just as people continue to expect them now.
At only 21, he’s managed to achieve more than most people are able to do in their entire lives, which is why it’s not shocking that many are wondering what his next move is going to be following his NBA Summer League stint.
Even before he entered high school, people were already on the lookout for Sotto, given that both of his parents are well-known athletes in the Philippines. In 2015, he was a part of the Jr. NBA program and was one of the few chosen to be a part of the National Training Camp, quickly labeled MVP for the said program.
After three years of attending Ateneo de Manila University, where he was a vital member of the Ateneo Blue Eaglets basketball team, he earned the Rookie of the Year award in UAAP Season 79. During this time, he also played in the U-16 championship as well as the FIBA Under-17 and FIBA Under-19 World Cups in 2018 and 2019, respectively.
He would continue to garner awards during the following seasons of the UAAP. He then joined The Skill Factory in Atlanta, an organization that focuses on sports coaching and honing one’s talents through different skill training programs.
He continued to show his potential as he, later on, became a part of the Basketball Without Borders Global Camp, which is hosted by the NBA as a means of bringing players from all over the world together to showcase their talents to members of the NBA, WNBA, and FIBA.
Sotto later joined the NBA G League Ignite but had difficulty attending due to travel restrictions brought on by COVID-19. He was then stuck in the Philippines, playing in the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers.
In 2021, he signed on to play for the Australian National Basketball League’s Adelaide 36ers.
He tried his luck to enter the NBA in 2022 but ended up undrafted.
He then took part in Gilas Pilipinas games for the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers and parted ways with the Adelaide 36ers before signing with the Hiroshima Dragonflies, a team in the Japan B. League, in February 2023.
He renewed his contract with the Dragonflies in May, and soon after, he was invited to join the Orlando Magic to play during the Summer League of the NBA.
Future plans
Despite setbacks, Sotto holds on to his dream of becoming the first homegrown Filipino NBA player.
He has a fruitful career ahead of him, and despite his young age, he’s already playing with and learning from pros in the industry.
“He is a hungry young man. He’s not gonna quit. The Filipinos just got to be patient,’’ Ronzone said.
