Adelaide 36ers coach thrilled to work with Kai Sotto, expects him to make mark in NBL

Adelaide 36ers newly-appointed head coach CJ Bruton is beaming with excitement over his looming team-up with Filipino wunderkind Kai Sotto, who is set to suit up for the squad in the upcoming season of the National Basketball League (NBL).

Bruton shared he had been monitoring the 7-foot-3 cager since his days with the Ateneo junior basketball program in UAAP until his stint with the NBA G-League team Ignite.

Bruton, a six-time NBL champion as a player, also revealed that he actually eyed Sotto to suit up for the Brisbane Bullets, an NBL team he previously worked as an assistant coach for, but did not materialize.

The 45-year-old Bruton came on board as Adelaide head coach in September, serving as a replacement for Conner Henry who parted ways with the team in August and to be finally working alongside Sotto is something he looks forward to in his new role.

"With Kai Sotto, we've got the blessing of having a young kid who has been put on my doorstep who I was pushing for when I was in Brisbane," Bruton said.

"From the time we were in the hub I was trying to push that through the organisation and not knowing which way our organisation was headed, and who was coaching. Everyone let it fall on deaf ears but I said he was coming to someone and I still remember following Kai from when he was in high school."

Bruton added that he's seeing a lot of potential for the 19-year-old Sotto and is expecting him to immediately make an impact in the league, which will unfurl on December 3 with Adelaide opening its season against the debuting Tasmania JackJumpers.

Sotto is coming off an impressive run with the Gilas Pilipinas, whom he helped sweep the final window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers last June. During the three-game window, the second-generation baller averaged 9.3 points, seven rebounds, and 1.3 assists.

"He has such a great upside even though I know he's still young and as an 18-year-old kid there will be some adjustment for him to play against men in the NBL, but I'm so excited by his ability to already make an impact.

"I can't see why he won't be able to make his mark this season and like Mo King, they both have aspirations for bigger and better things. But it's all about them making themselves part of our team and helping us play well, and that's important for their development." — LA, GMA News