Dwight Howard, the 8-time NBA All-Star seems to live by Ricky Rubio’s famous line, “I live a life where I never regret any decision.” But for Dwight, it’s not just a motto it’s the way of life. For the 2025 Dubai tournament, many teams threw offers at him left and right but he didn’t even blink. He stuck with the Strong Group and the reason behind it is quite simple, actually. His loyalty to his “Pinoy fans.” But how did Dwight Howard build such a strong bond with the Philippino fans?

“I got offered to play for a couple teams in the Dubai tournament but I can’t go against my Pinoy fans,” Dwight shared on his social media. That one line says it all. For the three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, his fans aren’t just supporters, they’re family. And crossing them? Not an option. Respect, right? But hold up, it gets better. Dwight’s got stories and memories from when he hit the court with the team. You’re gonna love this, believe me.

On a recent podcast with Andray Blatche aka Kuya Dray, Dwight shared some heartfelt memories of playing with the team. Kuya Dray chimed in, saying, “I don’t care where we went to go play, the whole arena was all Filipino.” And he’s not wrong, those fans really bring some energy that’s off the charts. After all, this is the true essence of basketball, isn’t it? When you’ve got a crowd like that behind you, it’s like fuel for greatness. They lift you, push you, and make the impossible feel easy.

Dwight couldn’t have agreed more, saying, “I had a chance to play for the Filipino team, and it was so beautiful. The fans give you wings, you feel like you can do anything.” And he’s right. For someone like Dwight, who gave it his all for Strong Group in the 2024 Dubai tournament, it’s even more meaningful. He averaged a rock-solid 17.4 points and 10.3 rebounds over eight games. He led the team all the way to the finals, that’s not just playing that’s giving hundred and ten percent on the court.

Dwight is back for the 2025 Dubai tournament and this is his chance to help his team redeem themselves after last year’s loss in the finals. All the Pinoy fans will be at the corner of their seats. Could this be the tournament when they finally take the throne as the best?

Let’s take a brief detour and check out what Andray Blatche revealed to Dwight on the podcast about his team. And sorry to break it to you but reports indicate this might be his final stint with them.

Dwight’s teammate Andray Blatche sharing memories

“Playing the World Cup with the Philippines my first year, what we was doing was some of the most unheard-of amazing things I seen in my whole career bro,” Andray Blatche shared. And damn, can you imagine the pressure he was under? Yet, he pulled off a phenomenon in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup. Over just 5 games, his PPG was 21.2, RPG was 13.8, and his EFF was a solid 22.4. That’s a beast on the rise.

When Dwight asked Andray how he ended up on the Philippines team, he said, “I was told they wanted JaVale McGee first to be their center for the national team..the coach wanted somebody you know handles that can drive and shoot and everything like that and somebody mention my name.” And just like that boom! The next thing he knew, he was already on the team.

The 2025 Dubai tournament is huge for both Dwight and Andray since it could be their last time playing together for the Philippines. Fans are really excited and it’s easy to see why. They want to witness some great moments on the court from this duo and so are we.