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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Dwight Howard to reinforce PH's Strong Group in Dubai tilt

Dwight Howard to reinforce PH's Strong Group in Dubai tilt

Published Jan 3, 2024 02:37 am

At A Glance

  • Former NBA champion and eight-time All-Star Dwight Howard is set to reinforce the Strong Group Philippines in the 2024 Dubai International Tournament slated Jan. 19 to 28.

Former NBA champion and eight-time All-Star Dwight Howard is set to reinforce the Strong Group Philippines in the 2024 Dubai International Tournament slated Jan. 19 to 28.

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Dwight Howard is set to play for Strong Group in Dubai (Taoyuan Leopards photo)

The 6-foot-10 center, who played in the NBA for 18 seasons including stints in Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic, is set to arrive next week to join former Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player Andray Blatche as one of the team’s reinforcements.

Howard began his foray in Asian basketball when he signed with Taoyuan Leopards in the Taiwan’s T1 League before eventually finding his way to the Philippine soil after signing with the Strong Group team which is looking to reclaim the crown in the Dubai tournament after bowing out in the quarterfinals of last year’s edition.

Strong Group, though, isn’t entirely stranger to big signings, having tapped former NBA players like Nick Young, Shabazz Muhammad and Renaldo Balkman last year.

The 38-year-old big man is coming off a workout with the Golden State Warriors during the preseason and his latest move to the Philippines is still part of his effort to make it back to the big league.

Out to prove he has plenty of gas left in the tank, Howard should become one of Strong Group’s most potent weapons especially after a splendid year in T1 where he averaged 23.2 points, 16.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.2 blocks through 20 games with the Leopards.

Strong Group and head coach Charles Tiu has yet to reveal the full lineup but the team is expected to tap young, budding talents like UAAP champions Kevin Quiambao and Francis Escandor.

Last year, collegiate stars like Quiambao, Jerom Lastimosa, Francis Lopez, JD Cagulangan, Justine Baltazar, Will Gozum, Migs Oczon and Fil-American Sedrick Barefield composed the team.

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