Dwight Howard invites fans for his Philippines arrival

FILE–Former NBA player Dwight Howard. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images/AFP

MANILA, Philippines—“Superman” got a message for his Filipino fans.

While Dwight Howard posting a hilarious Tiktok video on Instagram wasn’t much of a surprise, his message to the country’s basketball fans was a bit unusual—in a good way.

Some basketball icons want their arrival to the country to be kept a secret. In fact, some basketball teams that competed in the 2023 Fiba World Cup didn’t divulge their arrival in public.

READ: Dwight Howard also recruits LeBron James to play in Taiwan

Not Howard, though.

“Meet me at the airport on Saturday, January 6, for the chance to get your picture with me and autograph,” wrote the NBA veteran.

“Let me know in the comments what things I should do or what places I should visit when I arrive! Let’s go Philippines, I’m on the way.”

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Howard was tapped by Philippine side Strong Group for the Dubai International Basketball Tournament slated for January 19-28.

The video attached to Howard’s Instagram post was of him making a skit about ordering Jollibee “for the 30th time.”

It seems like the Filipino local food chain caught the NBA champion’s eye as soon as he was confirmed to play for the country.

“That Jollibees gone hit,” wrote Howard in a tweet on Thursday, days after coach Charles Tiu’s confirmation of his inclusion for Strong Group.

Joining Howard on the Philippine side are fellow NBA veterans Andray Blatche, Andre Roberson and collegiate stars JD Cagulangan, Francis Escandor and Kevin Quiambao.