Strong Group adds Brian Goorjian to coaching staff, signs up Andray Blache, Kevin Quiambao

NBA veteran Dwight Howard is slated to join Manila-based basketball team, Strong Group, for the upcoming 33rd Dubai International Basketball Championship.

The tournament is scheduled to take place from January 19 to 28 at the Al-Nasr Sport Club in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The announcement was officially confirmed by head coach Charles Tiu, following the initial report by NBA insider Shams Charania of The Athletic.

“He should be here this weekend,” said Tiu during an interview with The STAR. “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 top selection of the Orlando Magic in 2004, will join forces with other talented players from the Strong Group. This includes former Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player Andray Blatche, former OKC Thunder player Andre Robinson, and former TNT Tropang Giga import McKenzie Moore.

Leading the local players are UAAP MVP Kevin Quiambao from La Salle and ace point guard JD Cagulangan from the University of the Philippines.

Tiu, on the other hand, will have a coaching staff that includes Brian Goorjian, head coach of Australia’s national team and former mentor of the Bay Area Dragons.

Quiambao and Cagulangan were also part of last year’s squad, along with MPBL MVP Justine Baltazar, Fil-American sensation Sedrick Barefield, Jerom Lastimosa, Will Gozum, Migz Oczon, and Francis Lopez.