Guam’s Sotelo relishes Basketball without Borders opportunity

GEELONG/DANDENONG – Recently FIBA and the NBA made history by hosting the first-ever Basketball without Boarders camp in the Oceania region – but this was not the only first for this prestigious event. Guam’s Kobe Sotelo is now the only athlete from his country to ever attend the event.

“It’s a really great privilege [to be here], I feel honored and am using this opportunity to the fullest”

The Guam prospect currently plays with the Harvest Christian Academy Eagles in country but has been a staple at FIBA's events in the region.

Sotelo had the challenge of going head to head with some of the best players for his age in the region, all in front of past and present NBA players.

“[This opportunity] is amazing,” said Sotelo. “Playing with better players will only make you better and it’s good to see where Guam is compared to the other countries.”

Sotelo and the rest of the Detroit Pistons Basketball Without Boarders team

Sotelo may not have been exposed to anything of this level before but the Guam rising star couldn’t wait to tackle the challenge head on.

“[My favourite session is] the scrimmaging. Playing with the elite is the best time right now, [this is the] best competition I’ve played with and against.”

Sotelo wasn’t fazed by going head to head with the region's elite, he took it right to the rest of the athletes and showed why he deserves to be among the best.

Sotelo will be able to draw upon his experience of competing against the best player in the region at the FIBA U18 Oceania Championships in December this year. Here he will come up against a number of the Australian and New Zealand boys again, but Sotelo’s team Guam will be ready.

“[While] preparing for the U18s in Fiji in December [I’ll be] using what I’ve learned from this experience to strengthen my team,” said Sotelo. “I’ll take [this knowledge] and apply every single thing that I’ve been taught [to] my game, help my national team mates and my school team to get better.”

FIBA