Visa issues have stopped Adelaide 36ers’ Filipino centre Kai Sotto from travelling with the workforce to Auckland for Sunday’s match towards the New Zealand Breakers.
In an announcement, the membership confirmed 218cm tall Soto had flown again to Adelaide from Melbourne, the place the Sixers had remained after their defeat of Melbourne United on Thursday evening.
The membership mentioned it had “exhausted all options to get approval for (Sotto) to travel into New Zealand” however he can be out there for his or her follow-up sport towards the Perth Wildcats on Thursday.
The Sixers advised AAP Sotto was in good spirits regardless of his visa dilemma however declined to elaborate on the character of his refusal into New Zealand.
Per the New Zealand Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade, Philippine nationals require a visa to enter New Zealand, which permits them to remain within the nation for 9 months.
Sotto has performed within the NBL since final season however Sunday’s match was set to be his first in New Zealand, given COVID-19 restrictions meant no video games had been performed on the opposite aspect of the Tasman within the 2021-22 marketing campaign.
The Sixers final travelled to New Zealand in May 2021 for a match towards the Breakers in Christchurch.
A frequent topic of Filipino press protection, Sotto has been tipped as having NBA potential however was neglected after nominating for the latest draft.
Adelaide coach CJ Bruton performs Sotto off the bench and has favoured Daniel Johnson as a centre choice this season, proscribing the Filipino to a median of 10 minutes of time on the ground.
