CHICAGO — With his pursuit of playing in the NCAA now behind him, Kai Sotto will return to the Japan B.League for the 2026-27 season.
According to his camp, the 7-foot-3 center has agreed to join Altiri Chiba of the league’s Premier division.
The deal is still pending finalization and signing, and terms were not disclosed.
After recovering from an ACL tear suffered on January 5, 2025, Sotto returned to the Koshigaya Alphas on January 24, 2026, and immediately made an impact, averaging 13.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 0.9 blocks in 28 games.
Sotto also had a star turn during the fourth window of the 2027 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers, where he helped lead Gilas Pilipinas to crucial victories over Jordan and Iran.
NBA DREAM STILL ALIVE
Even as the Filipino phenom recalibrates his NBA plans, there remains plenty of optimism that Kai will eventually find his way to the world’s most prestigious basketball league.
“He’s in great shape and only 24 years old. He had a plan, and he will only get better as he matures,” a top-flight NBA agent told me.
Altiri Chiba could be a valuable stop in Sotto’s journey, giving him another opportunity to hone his skills, gain experience and continue developing his game.
For Kai, the destination may have changed for now, but the dream remains the same.
The NBA dream lives on.
