Filipino center Kai Sotto is diligently honing his skills and physique, while actively playing in the Japanese B.League, with the Yokohama B-Corsairs, even as he is looking forward to upcoming challenges in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers, set to kick off in February.
Working under the guidance of renowned strength coach Mel Lantin, the 7’3” Sotto is committed to enhance his strength, quickness, and overall performance and achieve an optimal weight to fortify his presence in the paint.
In a recent Facebook post, coach Lantin shared images of Sotto engaging in various exercises designed to enhance what is known as SAQ (speed, agility, and quickness) in sports science.
According to Manila Standard source, the training regimen pays a meticulous attention to Sotto’s nutrition, strategically aiming to bulk him up in anticipation of the rigorous competitions ahead.
Sotto was among the 12 players selected by newly appointed Gilas Pilipinas mentor Tim Cone.
The elite roster is set to represent the Philippines in the opening window of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers this February.
The line-up also included familiar faces such as Dwight Ramos, June Mar Fajardo, Scottie Thompson, Chris Newsome, Calvin Oftana, CJ Perez, Jamie Malonzo, AJ Edu, Carl Tamayo, and Kevin Quiambao.
Having joined forces with Lantin in August last year at the Fit Twenty One fitness gym in Las Pinas City, Sotto’s dedication to conditioning was evident even before his stint with Gilas in the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
Lantin, a respected figure in conditioning, has previously worked with diverse athletes, including rising boxing star Carl Jammes Martin and the UP Junior Maroons’ basketball team.
He also handled teams from Perpetual Help Altas, De La Salle University, Far Eastern University, and Ateneo de Manila University in the UAAP.