Strong Group will be bringing out the big guns as it deploys three former National Basketball Association stars as reinforcements with an Olympic coach as mentor in the 2024 Dubai International Basketball Championship.
Strong Group coach Charles Tiu told Daily Tribune that they had already reached a deal with three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard as well as former NBA standouts Andray Blatche and Andre Roberson to serve as their imports in the prestigious invitational event set from 19 to 28 January.
Tiu added that he will handle the team with Brian Goorjian — the veteran mentor who led Australia to the bronze medal in the Tokyo Olympics and the Bay Area Dragons to the finals of the Commissioner’s Cup last year — as his consultant.
Howard is a gem of a recruit who could help the Filipinos bounce back from a quarterfinal exit last year.
The 38-year-old slotman remains a strong force to be reckoned with after playing for the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2021-2022 season, where he averaged 6.2 points and 5.9 rebounds in 60 games. Then, he moved to the Taoyuan Leopards in Taiwan’s T1 League, where he posted monster numbers of 23.2 points, 16.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks power game highlighted by an appearance in the Three-Point Contest.
Howard also worked out with the Golden State Warriors ahead of the 2023-24 season, and he jokingly lobbied for a spot in the Detroit Pistons roster amid their historic losing streak in December.
Shams Charania of The Athletic, who broke the news about Howard’s signing in social media, said the 6-foot-10 Howard accepted the short-term offer to play for the Filipino club to keep himself in shape for a possible return to the NBA.
After all, the trade deadline is until 8 February and Howard and other free agents should be available just in case a team wants to land him for the remainder of the 2022-2023 season.
Tiu said Blatche, the former Gilas Pilipinas slotman who played for a total of nine years in the NBA before moving to China, was the one who referred Howard to the Strong Group.
He added that he believes Howard will remain competitive in a bid to book a return ticket to the NBA and win another title.
“We pursued Dwight because we believe that he can provide a significant defensive presence a “Andray Blatche played a crucial role in connecting us, and I’m grateful for the support of our owners, Frank and Jacob Lao.”
Tiu added that he is also excited to reunite with the 37-year-old Blatche, who powered Gilas Pilipinas in the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2014 in Spain and 2019 in China.
“I’m excited to run with Dre Blatche again. We won the last time he played for me and he’s eager to represent the Philippines once more,” Tiu said, referring to the sweet-shooting forward who led Tiu and Mighty Sports to the Dubai crown in 2020.
Also tipped to provide an impact is Roberson.
The 6-foot-7 former Oklahoma City Thunder still has a lot of gas left in the tank at 32 years old and could provide defensive prowess both inside and outside the shaded lane while knocking down the open jumpers.
“Andre Roberson is known to be a workhorse and lockdown defender,” Tiu added.
“I believe he can contribute offensively at this level, and his great team-oriented attitude will make him an excellent fit.”
But the elder Lao is really excited over the inclusion of Goorjian, who can also help in developing Philippine basketball.
“I am truly excited to announce the addition of Brian Goorjian as our esteemed consultant for the Dubai International Basketball Championship,” Lao said in a statement.
“With his unparalleled coaching acumen and a wealth of experience, Brian brings an invaluable perspective to all of us.”
Aside from Howard, Blatche and Roberson, former TNT Tropang Giga import McKenzie Moore will also serve as imports while University Athletic Association of the Philippines Most Valuable Player Kevin Quiambao and Francis Escandor of De La Salle University and JD Cagulangan of University of the Philippines comprise the early local recruits.
“We’re still talking to some local players,” Tiu, who paraded former NBA stars Nick Young, Shabazz Muhammad and Renaldo Balkman in the prestigious Dubai tourney last year, said.
“We’ll make an announcement very soon.”nd contribute offensively,” Tiu, also the head coach of College of Saint Benilde, thanking their team owners, Frank and Jacob Lao, in supporting his recruiting coup.
