MANILA, Philippines – Kai Sotto remains a force to be reckoned with in the Japan B. League.
After submitting back-to-back high scoring performances for the Koshigaya Alphas in his first two games back from Gilas Pilipinas duty, Sotto produced another monster double-double line on Sunday, December 8, as they completed a weekend sweep of Matthew Wright and the Kawasaki Brave Thunders with a 100-74 rout.
The 7-foot-3 Sotto scored a game-high 25 points on a healthy 8-of-13 clip from the floor, 18 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals in over 33 minutes of play to lead the Alphas (6-12) to their third consecutive victory.
Wright, in contrast, was held to only 4 points on 1-of-3 shooting and 1 steal as the Brave Thunders (4-14) fell to their fourth straight loss.
Since helping Gilas Pilipinas sweep the second window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers in November, Sotto has averaged 18.7 points and 11.5 rebounds for the Alphas in their last four matches.
His 18-rebound output on Sunday also tied his B. League career-high in rebounds, which he first recorded in an 87-78 loss to the Sendai 89ers earlier this season.
In 17 games played for the Alphas this year, the 22-year-old Sotto is currently averaging 13.7 points on 54.4% shooting, 9,8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.2 blocks in 27.8 minutes.
He ranks sixth in the league in rebounds, seventh in both blocks and field goal percentage, and No. 1 in defensive boards with 8.5 per game.
Aside from Sotto, both Ray Parks and Dwight Ramos helped their respective squads pick up victories on Sunday.
Parks registered 12 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block as the Osaka Evessa (10-8) defeated the Sunrockers Shibuya, 76-70.
Ramos, for his part, poured in 6 points on 3-of-4 shooting and 1 rebound in just 8 minutes and 37 seconds of action for the Levanga Hokkaido (6-12) in their 69-61 victory against the Akita Northern Happinets.
Elsewhere, Kiefer Ravena’s Yokohama B-Corsairs (7-11) and AJ Edu’s Nagasaki Velca (7-11) suffered contrasting losses on Sunday.
Ravena dropped a team-high 15 points, 1 assist, and 1 steal in Yokohama’s 101-60 beating at the hands of the Utsunomiya Brex, while Edu tallied 4 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block in Nagasaki’s 83-81 loss to the Alvark Tokyo. – Rappler.com