By REYNALD MAGALLON
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.
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 has this penchant of tapping former NBA players in its bid to gain attention from Filipinos working in the oil-rich city. Last year, it signed Nick Young and Shabazz Muhammad to join forces with Renaldo Balkman, but the team failed to get past the quarters.
The 38-year-old big man is coming off a workout with Golden State Warriors during the preseason and his latest move to PH 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.
Coach Charles Tiu has yet to reveal the full line up 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.
