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Dwight Howard.–STRONG GROUP PHOTO

Charles Tiu is very confident that his Strong Group team that will represent the Philippines in the 33rd Dubai International Basketball Championship has a clear shot at the championship, what with a roster teeming with ex-NBA players and a coaching staff that has Olympics experience.

“I like the team. We have a great group of guys and nobody complains, not even Dwight (Howard), he listens to everything we’ve asked,” the young coach told reporters after an open practice in Makati City on Wednesday.

“I feel we have a better team right now, we have a better group of imports right now, more solid team. We just have to get a bit in shape,” Tiu went on.

Howard, a many-time NBA All-Star will be headlining this batch of players together with Andre Roberson and former Gilas Pilipinas stalwart Andray Blatche.

Brian Goorjian, the Australian national team coach, and Topex Robinson of UAAP champion La Salle will be backing up Tiu on the bench.

Strong Group is in the early part of its preparations as Tiu aims to get at least five full practices with a complete lineup before playing a tuneup game prior to flying out on Jan. 17. The event will run from Jan. 19 to Jan. 28.

Howard and Blatche failed to make it to the first practice like most recent recruit Jordan Heading.

Tiu will also rely on his vast experience coaching in the tournament.

“I haven’t quite seen [the opponents’ rosters] yet, but these are the same teams that I have been playing in this tournament for the last five years or so. [Around] four Lebanese teams with all their national team players, all their imports so it’s gonna be a really stacked competition,” Tiu said.

‘Taking it slow’

“We’re just taking it slow, one day at a time trying to make sure nobody gets hurt, but I think we have a great group of guys,” he said referring to his team that has standouts like reigning UAAP Most Valuable Player (MVP) Kevin Quiambao and graduating Archer Francis Escandor.

College of St. Benilde stalwarts Allen Liwag, Tony Ynot and Justine Sanchez will also play vital roles for Strong Group along with University of the Philippines marksman JD Cagulangan whom Tiu thinks will impact their game a lot with his playmaking as well as former TNT import McKenzie Moore.

“JD Cagulangan will have a bigger role, McKenzie Moore will have to play the point, maybe I’ll put Jordan Heading on the point guard spot a little bit also but everybody’s gonna have to fit in,” he said as Strong Group will also have another La Salle standout and Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball MVP Justine Baltazar.

“Modesty aside, we definitely wanna win the championship. We didn’t have such a great run last year with all of a sudden Ange Kouame [getting] sick, missed the tournament and that changed [the team],” he said. “So right now, our goal, if we can stay healthy, would be really to win the championship.”