WITHOUT a doubt, it was the fan experience in the Philippines that made it easy for Dwight Howard to commit to the Manila-based team Strong Group Athletics (SGA).
The many-time NBA All-Star showed enthusiasm on Day Three of practice for the Charles Tiu-mentored SGA team that will be competing in the Dubai International Basketball Championship from January 19 to 28.
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The 38-year-old center revealed there's no hesitation on his part to accept the gig, saying he's been yearning to get back in the country for a while now since playing for the Houston Rockets in an NBA preseason game in Manila in 2013.
"It's amazing, it's my third time here, and I've been dreaming about coming back for a couple of years now... I'm glad to be home," he told the media after Wednesday practice.
Howard said it was Andray Blatche who asked him to be part of the SGA campaign.
"Dre said there's an opportunity, and I asked, 'Where are we going?' He said, 'The Philippines,' and I said, 'I gotta go,'" he shared. "I told him I'll be free and I'll make it possible."
He added: "I always enjoyed the Filipino fans... and being able to come here and represent the Philippibes is a great honor and I take pride in it."
Pinoys in Thailand reminded him of PH
The NBA champion also bared that apart from the taste of Filipino fast food, his fans never get tired of reminding him to come back.
"What made me say yes? At first I thought it was Jollibee, but it's just all the fans... I went to Thailand for a visit last year and I ran into a lot of Filipinos out there asking me that I have to come back."
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