Dwight Howard signs with Taiwan Mustangs ahead of TAT Leg 3

Dwight Howard is suiting up for Taiwan in TAT's future legs including one in Taipei at the end of July. UAE Basketball Association (file photo)
By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Dwight Howard is joining TAT but not with Zamboanga.

Well, not yet.

The Taiwan Mustangs announced on Thursday that they have signed up the former NBA champion ahead of the new league's next schedules.

The 6-foot-11 center also announced via Instagram that he has become TAT's part-owner.

"I am so blessed to now be able to say I am a part owner of a professional basketball league playing in [The Asian Tournament]," Howard said.

All eyes, though, will be on whether Howard will immediately suit up for Taiwan in the next leg of TAT.

Taiwan said the third leg of the inaugural season will occur in Zhengzhou, China, but TAT officially announced it will happen in Pola, Oriental Mindoro.

This means Pola Pilipinas RPG, which ruled the second leg in Passi, gets homecourt advantage as the Gerald Anderson and Xavier Alexander-starred team looks to make it two in a row.

For sure, though, Howard will play for the Mustangs as they defend homecourt in the Taiwan leg from July 26-Aug. 1 at the Peace Basketball Hall in Taipei.

However, this does not exactly mean Howard will stay with Taiwan in the long run as word has reached Dugout Philippines that the NBA legend could still end up with Zamboanga.

A source said the possibility of the Valientes acquiring Howard ahead of TAT's final leg at the Vitaliano Agan Coliseum in Zamboanga City is still in play.

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