MANILA – Kai Sotto had one of his best games in the 2022-2023 National Basketball League season but Adelaide 36ers suffered a close 85-83 defeat to New Zealand Breakers over the weekend.
The 7-foot-3 Filipino center tied his season-best 16 points to go with five rebounds and two blocks as the 36ers slumped to its second defeat in three matches to slump to 11-10 slate.
The Gilas Pilipinas center dropped 12 of his 16 points in the second half, including two slam dunks in the fourth quarter, that helped the 36ers keep in step with the second-seeded Breakers.
It was the seventh consecutive starting center gig of the former Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eaglets star for the 36ers and the squad was on a roll until their two recent close defeats.
Sotto also started during the 36ers’ 103-95 victory against the Illawarra Hawks last Friday where the Filipino center scored seven points to go with six rebounds in almost 10 minutes of action.
Down by as much as nine points at 76-85 with over three minutes against the Breakers, the 36ers went on a massive finishing 7-0 scoring blast to cut the deficit to 83-85 with 1:14 remaining in the game.
Both teams struggled with their offense from there and the 36ers had its last opportunity to snatch the lead and the upset victory but Ian Clark misfired on his three-point attempt with nine seconds left.
Barry Brown Jr. spearheaded the offense for the second-ranked Breakers with 16 points, while Jarrell Brantley and Izayah Le’afa also hits double-digits on offense with 15 and 13, respectively.
Robert Franks delivered a double-double of 20 points and 13 rebounds to lead the way for Adelaide, while Antonius Cleveland contributed 18 markers in the losing cause.
Sotto and the 36ers will aim to get back to their winning ways in the NBL when it takes on the Tasmania Jack Jumpers on Thursday afternoon./PN
