DeMarcus Cousins to play for Zamboanga Valientes

DeMarcus Cousins arrives in Manila. Photo from Wendell Alinea

MANILA, Philippines–DeMarcus Cousins’ next overseas stint has led him to the Philippines with the Zamboanga Valientes.

The four-time NBA All-Star and 2016 Rio Olympics gold winner arrived in Manila on Friday afternoon around 5:30 p.m. at Ninoy Aquino Terminal 1 in Pasay City, a few days before reinforcing the local club in The Asian Tournament’s grand finalé that gets going Aug. 5 in the City of Flowers itself.

“He told us that he has not had any sleep since the game last night,” Valientes team owner Junnie Navarro told reporters shortly after the Cousin’s arrival.

READ: DeMarcus Cousins to play in Taiwan T1 League

The 33-year-old big man is set to join the team’s practice at Active Sports in Mandaluyong on Saturday afternoon.

Cousins is coming off a stint with the Taiwan Mustangs, which he helped lead to a sweep and a 4th leg title in Taipei on Thursday night.

There, Cousins played alongside NBA champions Quinn Cook and Dwight Howard, Valitentes’ original target as an import for the culminating leg.

READ: DeMarcus Cousins, eyeing NBA comeback, to play in Puerto Rico

Zamboanga is one of the two Filipino clubs competing in TAT. A leg title, however, remains slipper for Navarro and his crew of Zamboanga natives led by former PBA All-Star and Gilas Pilipinas member Mike Tolomia.

The Macau Blackbears won the opening leg, with Pola Pilipinas ruling the second and third legs.

Cousins is set to team up with other imports Ricky Bryce and former UAAP Most Valuable Player Malick Diouf. The Valientes will also have another former Gilas standout Mac Belo for its bid to rule the finalé.