Kai fate hangs in balance

Kai Sotto’s fate remains unclear after going undrafted in the National Basketball Association (NBA) Rookie Draft at the Barclays Center in New York City on Friday.,After working out with eight teams before the draft, the 20-year-old Filipino slotman was left unselected in the two-round selection process, where only 60 of the 158 young prospects from all over the world got drafted.,Filipino fans closely monitored the draft proceedings, hoping that Sotto would be called up and become the country’s first homegrown player to get a shot in the NBA.,But down to the 58th and final pick of Indiana Pacers, NBA commissioner Adam Silver didn’t call the name of the 7-foot-2 big former Ateneo de Manila University standout.,,“I can’t really explain the feeling but it’s not a good feeling. I really worked hard and did my best to get here,” said Sotto, who was in his home base in Atlanta during the draft proper.,“This is just a speed bump. We didn’t get the Plan A but we got a Plan B and it’s not gonna stop me.”,With his draft hopes completely gone, the only way for the 20-year-old Sotto to get into the NBA is by participating in the Summer League, which starts on 7 July at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.,,Together with other prospects, Sotto will get a chance to display his talent before coaches, scouts, talent evaluators and general managers for a chance to land an NBA contract – a path that would be taken by other notable undrafted players like Filipino-American guards Ron Harper Jr. and Remy Martin as well as Shareef O’Neal and Scotty Pippen.,But in an interview with his agent, Joel Bell, it appeared that Sotto and his management group have other plans.,Bell said the Filipino sensation will not be taking any chances in the NBA Summer League as he plans to fly home to Manila to join Gilas Pilipinas in the upcoming FIBA World Cup qualifiers on 30 June and 3 July, as well as the FIBA Asia Cup from 12 to 24 July in Jakarta.,“He’s gonna pass up the Summer league and play with the Philippine national team. That’s his commitment and he’s very dedicated towards Filipino things, Filipino pride, Filipino activities,” Bell said in a television interview.,“I’ve already got several Summer League invites for him, but Kai has decided to play for the Filipino national team.”, ,If ever true, it would not be the first time for Sotto to return to the country that greatly hurt his NBA journey.,Last year, Sotto also decided to return to Manila to play in the third and final window of the FIBA Asian Cup Qualifiers in Clark, effectively passing up the chance to play for Team Ignite in the NBA G League.,His Team Ignite teammates in Jalen Green and Jonathan Kuminga went on to be drafted in the first round by the Houston Rockets and the Golden State Warriors.,But in a tweet, Sotto said everything is not yet cast in stone.,While the fate of his pro ranks remains unclear, Bell said there is a possibility that Sotto might take his acts to Europe or still rejoin Adelaide 36ers in Australia.,Still, Sotto said everything is not yet cast in stone.,“Thank you to everyone for your support and kind words tonight,” he said in a tweet shortly after Bell’s interview drew a lot of reactions.,“I won’t stop pursuing the dream of being in the NBA – this is not the end. I also want to clarify that no decision has been made about me not playing in the Summer League. My agent misspoke.”