(Daily Tribune) Kai Sotto worked out with Sacramento Kings ahead of the 2022 National Basketball Association (NBA) Rookie Draft on 23 June in Brooklyn.

The 20-year-old Filipino cager boosted his chances of making it to the NBA as he was among the six prospects who joined the Kings’ training session with less than a week left before the draft proceedings unfold.

The workout session also gave Sotto a chance to meet Filipino basketball great Jimmy Alapag, who is currently an assistant coach for Sacramento’s affiliate G League team Stockton Kings.

In a social media post, Alapag expressed his excitement for the 7-foot-3 cager’s attempt to become the first homegrown Filipino to ever get drafted into the NBA.

The Kings own the fourth overall pick in the upcoming draft as well as the 37th and the 49th picks.

“Great to see Kai here in Sacramento! Best of luck on your journey to the NBA,” Alapag said.

It was Sotto’s first training session since suffering an ankle injury during his workout with Atlanta Hawks a week ago.

His training with the Kings was his sixth pre-draft workout as he previously tried his luck with New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Cleveland Cavaliers, Chicago Bulls and the Hawks.

In an NBA report on Thursday, 24 early-entry candidates have decided to withdraw, leaving at least 150 prospects battling for only 58 spots for the draft.