FORMER National Basketball Association (NBA) star Nick Young arrived in the country to join the rest of the Strong Group team that has less than three weeks to prepare for the 32nd Dubai International Championship set from January 27 to February 5.
The former Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors forward arrived Monday with fellow NBA player and former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) import Shabazz Muhammad.
“Just landed in the Philippines,” tweeted by the one-time NBA champion who already met with Strong Group head coach Charles Tiu.
“Welcome to Manila @NickSwagyPYoung and @ShabazzMuhammad ! Let’s kill it in Dubai,” wrote Tiu while posting a photo with the two NBA players.
Strong Group owner Jacob Lao was delighted with the arrival of the two imports, believing they will play key roles in their bid to keep the country’s dominance in the annual event won by Mighty Sports in 2020.
Young will join another former NBA player and PBA import Renaldo Balkman, Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player Ange Kouame and Fil-American guard Sedrick Barefield.
Also in the lineup are Korean Basketball League-bound Justine Baltazar, National Collegiate Athletic Association MVP and College of St. Benilde forward Will Gozum and former Ateneo Blue Eagles BJ Andrade and Inand Fornillos.
The team will face rivals from the host country, Lebanon and other Middle East nations in Dubai.