MANILA, Philippines — NBA veteran Dwight Howard is bound for Manila.
The decorated big man will reinforce Philippine club team Strong Group in the Dubai International Basketball Championship slated Jan. 19 to 28 in the United Arab Emirates.
No less than head coach Charles Tiu confirmed the news first reported by NBA insider Shams Charania of The Athletic.
“He should be here this weekend,” Tiu yesterday told The STAR, expecting Howard’s hulking presence to spell the difference for the Philippine team.
“I expect him to still be dominant, especially defensively. We got him because we intend to win and we think he would give us the best chance (to accomplish it).”
Howard, the No. 1 pick of the Orlando Magic in 2004, will be teaming up with other Strong Group reinforcements in Gilas naturalized player Andray Blatche, former OKC Thunder Andre Robinson, and McKenzie Moore.
UAAP MVP Kevin Quiambao of La Salle and ace point guard JD Cagulangan of the University of the Philippines are among the local aces to headline the squad.
Tiu, meanwhile, will have a coaching staff that will include Australia national team mentor and former Bay Area coach Brian Goorjian.
Quiambao and Cagulangan were also part of last year’s squad with MPBL MVP Justine Baltazar, Fil-American sensation Sedrick Barefield, Jerom Lastimosa, Will Gozum, Migz Oczon and Francis Lopez.