“I’m sorry but this is crazy, THIS HAS TO STOP,” says Kai Sotto as Gilas Pilipinas player William Navarro fails to get SBP clearance to play in South Korea.
On Sunday, September 18, Kai Sotto vented his anger on social media, calling Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) “crazy” for refusing to let William Navarro play in South Korea.
William Navarro was rejected by FIBA to play for the Seoul Samsung Thunders And Kai Soto Express His Anger Over Social Media
The Adelaide 36ers center tweeted out his Instagram Story and said “our own people” shouldn’t be a barrier to their choice of career path.
Although Soto did not name anyone directly, his post came after news broke that Navarro was rejected by FIBA to play for the Seoul Samsung Thunders.
Im sorry but this is crazy
— Kai Sotto (@kzsottolive) September 18, 2022
THIS HAS TO STOP. You got
players who've been working
hard and dreaming to play
basketball at the highest
level they can reach and we
got our own people stopping
us from achieving greatness. 🇵🇭
“I’m sorry, but this is crazy. This has to stop. The players have been working hard and dreaming of playing basketball at the highest level they can, and our own people are preventing us from achieving greatness,” Soto said.
“At the end of the day, one person’s success is everyone’s. So, we have to help each other up! Not down.”
On September 12 last year, FIBA rejected the Korea Basketball Association’s request for permission after SBP said Navarro was contractually obliged to play for Gilas Pilipinas and PBA club NorthPort.
Navarro was selected by Batang Pier with the second overall pick in the Gilas special round of the 2021 PBA Season 46 draft.
“SBP respects the right of players to find greener pastures. But players also need to respect the agreements they have with their teams,” Sonny Barrios, SBP executive director, said in a statement Sunday.
“SBP does not intend to unduly prevent players from continuing their careers with other teams at home or abroad. But it is a fundamental and ethical practice for players to honour their existing contracts with their home team.”
