FORMER NBA players Dwight Howard, DeMarcus Cousins, and Quinn Cook are unlikely to play for the Taiwan Mustangs in their tune-up game against Gilas Pilipinas, SPIN.ph has learned.
The three former Los Angeles Lakers players have indeed signed with the Taiwan-based team that will play in The Asian Tournament in July, but will only join the Mustangs later this month, sources said.
This means that the three are doubtful for Monday’s tune-up match against Gilas Pilipinas at the Philsports Arena at 6 p.m. The game will be open to the public.
READ Gilas Pilipinas tuneup vs. Taiwan Mustangs set Monday
When asked for confirmation, Taiwan Mustangs coach Chris Gavina told SPIN.ph that they have already informed Gilas officials there are no guarantees that Howard, Cousins, and Cook will play in the tuneup.
But the team is still trying its best to bring them over for the tune-up.
“Quinn Cook and Cousins are eager to play but we're trying our best in such a short time to make it happen,” said Gavina, a former coach of Rain or Shine in the PBA.
“But as I told coach Richard (Del Rosario, Gilas team manager) and coach Jong (Uichico) that I couldn't promise them Dwight, Cook, and Cousins would be able to show up,” added Gavina.
The Mustangs will compete in The Asian Tournament from July 26 to August 1 in Taipei.
Howard, Cousins, and Cook saw action for the Lakers during the 2019-2020 season where they captured the NBA title inside the league’s bubble in Orlando, Florida at the height of the pandemic.
Howard, who once played for Philippine-based Strong Group Athletics in the Dubai International Championship, is also a part-owner of the Mustangs.
Cousins recently captured the Finals MVP award of the T1 League, one of Taiwan's professional leagues, while playing for the Taiwan Beer Leopards.
Even without the three NBA players, Gilas Pilipinas will still be tested especially in the frontline as Taiwan will be playing with 7-foot-6 Samuel Deguara, who once played in the Asean Basketball League.
Alex Cabagnot is also part of the Taiwan Mustangs.
Former Gilas player Geo Chiu and former Terrafirma guard Rashawn McCarthy is also in the roster of Taiwan Mustangs in previous The Asian Tournament legs.
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