By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Filipino center Kai Sotto is excited about contributing to the Yokohama B-Corsairs’ success in the remaining games of the 2023-2024 Japan B.League Division 1 schedule.

The 7-foot-3 Gilas Pilipinas center expresses immense gratitude for the opportunity extended by Yokohama, especially considering his return from a back injury he sustained while playing with the Orlando Magic in the NBA Summer League.

“I’m very blessed to be given this opportunity, and I will make the most out of it. I’m very excited to play for the city of Yokohama,” Sotto said in a statement on Thursday afternoon, December 28.

“I can’t wait to win more games and get better as a player here in Yokohama,” he said.

“From now on, I would like to fight together with everyone to win the title. Thank you for your continued support,” he added.

Sotto joined the B-Corsairs after his former team, the Hiroshima Dragonflies, loaned him to Yokohama.

Yokohama team manager Ken Takeda mentioned that, with Sotto’s addition, they decided to part ways with American center Edward Morris.

“Now that we have made this decision, the team must accelerate significantly. We will once again set our sights firmly on our goals and work together as a team to steadily move forward toward achieving them,” Takeda said.

Sotto is poised to make his Yokohama debut against the Seahorses Mikawa this weekend, as they aim to improve their current 10-14 record./ASC, WDJ