NOW that Dwight Howard has agreed to play for Philippine team Strong Group, any chance the former NBA star may soon land in the PBA?
It's difficult but not impossible.
You see, one of the scions of the Strong Group ballclub that will be fielding a team led by Howard in a Dubai tournament, Jacob Lao, also happens to be the team manager of Converge FiberXers in the pro league.
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The only problem is: the 2008 NBA Slam Dunk champion and eight-time All-Star can only be eligible to play if the PBA ever reverts to its old height ceiling of 6’10” for imports.
In what fans perceived as a way to keep the Bay Area Dragons from bringing back Andrew Nicholson, the PBA set the height limit to 6’9” for the ongoing Commissioner's Cup.
Sadly, Bay Area disbanded even before it could make a return trip to the PBA.
So we asked the soft-spoken Converge team manager Jacob Lao if Howard will soon don their purple and white jersey and his initial reaction was a hearty laugh.
“We’ll see,” said Lao, son of billionaire businessman Frank Lao, the top financial backer of the Strong Group team and College of St. Benilde in the NCAA.
“But if the PBA will allow us to bring in a 6’10” import, why not?” added the former Ateneo Blue Eagles guard.
Lao bared that another issue that they may face in the PBA, assuming they decide to bring in Howard is the salary cap for PBA imports, which the league set at US$20,000 a month.
“Yun pa ho ang isa. Pero madali naman naming magawan ng paraan yang salary kasi we can offer other packages for Dwight,” he said.
Howard as an import in Taiwan
Lao stressed that they will seriously consider bringing in Howard - who played as an import for the Taoyuan Leopards in Taiwan's T1 League last season - as Converge’s import in the future if there's a way.
“We are seriously considering that. Why? Kasi yung 6’10 height ni Dwight is measured with shoes. PBA is measuring players without shoes. So we’ll see,” he added while revealing that PBA coaches Luigi Trillo and Jeff Cariaso already called him to ask about the possibility.
Lao and Strong Group team are no strangers to high-caliber imports, having previously brought in Shabazz Muhammad and Nick Young, both former NBA starters.
Lao revealed that aside from Howard, the Strong Group team is also set to name former OKC Thunder defensive specialist Andre’ Roberson as another import.
“We have more stars coming to the team. Just stay tuned. Magugulat kayo sa line-up na binubuo natin. We want to elevate Philippine basketball and we believe this is our small contribution to that cause,” Lao bared with a smile.
Asked why Converge is struggling in the current conference, Lao can only shake his head.
“Let’s just say all the breaks are not coming our way. We lost a few key players while we try to follow the rules. I am just as confused as to why we can’t sign up a player and another team does,” he said.
“But we will carry on with our principle and pursue the “Win With Honor” tradition of this franchise we inherited from its former ballclub Alaska,” said Lao.
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