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Kai Sotto looks to get stronger with World Cup on the horizon

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/sports/04/12/kai-sotto-041218.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>Batang Gilas center Kai Sotto. Handout photo</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines – After an impressive performance in the 2018 FIBA Under-16 Asian Championship, Kai Sotto is looking to improve further as he and the rest of Batang Gilas gear up for the FIBA Under-17 World Cup in June.Sotto made it to the Mythical Team of the FIBA U-16 Asian Championship after averaging 16.8 points, 13.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game in their six-game run. So impressive was the 7-foot-1 teenager that the FIBA website asserted that he could be &quot;<a href="http://www.fiba.basketball/asia/u16/2017/news/10-things-we-learned-from-the-fiba-u16-asian-championship">Asia&#x27;s next Yao Ming</a>.&quot;If you ask Sotto, however, the 15-year-old will say that he has plenty of things to work on. &quot;Lahat,&quot; he said Tuesday when asked what he needs to improve on. &quot;Everything na kailangan i-improve, kailangan ko i-improve.&quot;&quot;Hindi pa naman ako perfect sa kahit anong skill,&quot; he added. &quot;Papalakas pa ako lalo, at magi-improve pa.&quot;However, there is already one specific aspect that he knows he needs to work on: his strength.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/nba/news/2018/04/12/for-kobe-bryant-name-game-championships-40238">READ: For Kobe Bryant, the name of the game is championships</a></li></ul>As tall as he is, Sotto was still pushed around too easily by burlier players during the FIBA U-16 Asian Championship. Indeed, this was also a problem for him during the UAAP Season 80 juniors basketball finals, when National University&#x27;s smaller but more physical frontline bumped him repeatedly and forced him out of position.Sotto knows that come the World Cup, he will surely face off against stronger players.&quot;Kung sa skill, kaya naman naming mga Pinoy &#x27;yung kalaban namin,&quot; he pointed out. &quot; &#x27;Yung physical strength lang namin, hindi ganoon kalakas kumpara sa ibang teams, kaya &#x27;yun ang dapat naming i-improve, para maka-tapat kami sa ibang teams.&quot;Sotto pointed out that their lack of strength and stamina doomed them in certain instances in the FIBA Asia U-16.&quot;Medyo pagod na &#x27;yung katawan,&quot; said Sotto.This was a problem against China in the semifinals, when they fell short, 60-54, despite a stunning 26-point, 21-rebound effort from Sotto.Though they are just a couple of months away from the World Cup, Sotto is determined to put in the work so that he will not be pushed around come game time.&quot;Sa worlds, mas malaki &#x27;yung mga kalaban namin. So isa &#x27;yun sa i-improve namin dapat,&quot; he stressed. &quot;Tapos siyempre, practices din as a team, kasi iba na sa worlds eh.&quot;The FIBA Under-17 World Cup will run from June 30 to July 8 in Rosario and Santa Fe, Argentina. Batang Gilas has been grouped with the host country, France and Croatia.(For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/">ABS-CBN Sports website.</a>)

The national youth team sensation says that in terms of skills, he and his teammates aren't far behind the competition; in terms of physical strength, that's a different story.

The national youth team sensation says that in terms of skills, he and his teammates aren't far behind the competition; in terms of physical strength, that's a different story.

Kai Sotto looks to get stronger with World Cup on the horizon

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Kai Sotto looks to get stronger with World Cup on the horizon

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Apr 12, 2018 07:53 PM PHT

Read More:

basketball

Kai Sotto

Batang Gilas

FIBA Under-17 Basketball World Cup

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