Dwight Howard wants to gift Filipino fans with a title when he powers Strong Group in the 33rd Dubai International Basketball Championship starting this Friday at the Al Nasr Stadium in Dubai.
The 38-year-old Howard said he is determined to win the Dubai crown for the Filipinos, who have been supporting him from the time he jumped into the National Basketball Association as a high school phenom in 2004 until playing his last game with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2022.
Howard is no stranger to the Philippines.
He first landed in Manila in 2005 together with another former NBA star in Luke Walton for a promotional tour before playing for the Houston Rockets when they battled the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Global Games at the Mall of Asia Arena in 2013.
“What made me say yes? At first, I thought it was Jollibee, but now it’s just the fans. It’s amazing. This is my third time here, and it’s always fun to come to the Philippines,” Howard said.
“I have some Filipino friends in the States, so being able to come here and represent the Philippines is a great honor, I take pride in it.”
He said he is enjoying playing under Strong Group head coach Charles Tiu and Australia national team tactician Brian Goorjian, a bronze medalist in the Tokyo Olympics.
“Coach Brian brings a lot of energy every day in practice. (He is) one of the Australian legends of basketball. I love the energy that he brings, the passion that he brings to the game and the knowledge that he brings to the game,” the 6-foot-10 Howard said.
“Charles is very much a student of the game as well. He’s a lot younger than I, but for him to be a head coach and for him to do what he’s done with basketball and bring the guys here and expand the game in the Philippines and worldwide, it’s very amazing. So, I’m happy to be a part of that.”
Aside from Howard, also part of the Strong Group are former Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player Andray Blatche, former Oklahoma City Thunder defensive ace Andre Roberson and former TNT Tropang Giga import McKenzie Moore.
They will join College of Saint Benilde standouts Justine Sanchez, Tony Ynot and Allen Liwag as well as De La Salle University stars Francis Escandor and University Athletic Association of the Philippines Most Valuable Player Kevin Quiambao with JD Cagulangan and Justine Baltazar as part of the support crew.
