HINDI nagbabago ang deklarasyon ni Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin na dapat manatili sa Pilipinas ang 7-footer prodigy na si Kai Sotto sa kabila ng mga offer dito mula sa ilang European ballclub.
“I’ve been on the record already saying Kai’s best decision would be to stay here. I haven’t changed that,” ayon kay Baldwin.
“I still believe that’s the case and I think people just don’t understand what it means to go into the European theatre and how difficult that is especially for a kid.”
Pero tablado siya sa mga netizen at kay PBA legend Jerry Codiñera.
“Tab Baldwin just want kai to play for ateneo to win championships for the pleasure of his employer,” saad ni Twitter user b_Real.
Para naman kay @magslooper, mas pabor itong maglaro abroad ang tinaguriang ‘Kaiju’, napabalitang may offer sa European teams na Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Baskonia at Alda Berlin, para sa kanyang NBA dream.
“Why is Tab Baldwin stopping Kai Sotto? The kid needs to go international to improve for the future. Coach Tab is definitely not thinking of Kai’s future but of Ateneo’s.”
Una nang ipinahayag ni Sotto ang kagustuhang makatungtong sa NBA, at isa pa sa sumang-ayon na kaya nitong maabot ang pangarap niya ay si ‘Defense Minister’ Codiñera sakaling piliin nitong mag-abroad.
“I’m begging for Kai, kunin mo na kung saan man may offer ka diyan sa Europe, get it while it’s hot. Chance of a lifetime ito, hindi lahat ito ino-offer sa ibang players, athletes,” ayon kay Codiñera sa “The Score” ng ABS-CBN S+A.