Eight-time NBA All Star Dwight Howard helped raise over NT$3 million (US$97,944) at an evening fundraising event for two charities on his 37th birthday Thursday, according to his team, the Taoyuan Leopards.
Howard auctioned off items, including jerseys and shoes he had worn, and his Chinese calligraphy brush writing of the word “Love” and “Leopard,” to raise NT$2.026 million, which was added to the NT$1 million raised by ticket sales for the event, according to a statement issued by the Leopards.
Among the items sold, a black Leopards jersey that Howard had worn during one of the two games that he had played in T1 LEAGUE sold for NT$400,000, while a white jersey and a pair of basketball shoes, both worn during a game, sold for NT$320,000 and NT$380,000, respectively, the statement said.
After relevant costs were deducted from the raised funds, the remaining money will be donated to the CountryEDU Charity Foundation, which helps students living in rural areas, and the Good Shepherd Social Welfare Foundation, which helps low-income individuals and families, the Leopards said.
During the fundraiser, Howard thanked all the donors for coming out to not just celebrate his birthday with him but also spread love for all those in need by donating money, according to the Leopards’ statement.
In addition to the fundraiser, Howard also had a busy schedule of visiting three different schools on Wednesday and Thursday to interact and play basketball with the students, inspiring them to pursue their passions.
Howard, who joined the Leopards in November, was the first overall pick in the 2004 NBA draft, later becoming a three-time Defensive Player of the Year. He also won a championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2019-2020 season.
P. LEAGUE+ November MVP
New Taipei Kings center Byron Mullens was named P. LEAGUE+’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) for November, for helping his team win four consecutive games last month, according to the league on Thursday.
The 2.13-meter-tall American basketball player posted an average of 20.6 points, 13 rebounds and three assists per game in November.
Also, out of the five games that he played in November, Mullens recorded a double-double in points and rebounds in four of the games.
The Kings and the Taipei Fubon Braves, which are currently tied at the top of the six-team P. LEAGUE+ standings with 5-2 records, will be pitted against each other at Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium on Saturday.
T1 LEAGUE Import Player of November
Meanwhile, in Taiwan’s other professional basketball league, T1 LEAGUE, Taichung Suns small forward Tony Bishop was named Import player of the Month for November, according to the league on Wednesday.
Out of the six games he played in November, Bishop recorded an average of 22 points, 11.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and two steals per game to help the Suns pocket four wins and two losses.
Bishop’s performance wowed basketball fans as he contributed 26 points, 14 rebounds, six assists, and three steals in a 103-94 away win in front of 15,537 fans against Dwight Howard and the Leopards at National Taiwan Sport University’s multipurpose arena in Taoyuan.
The Suns, which are tied third in the six-team T1 LEAGUE standings with a 4-3 record, will next face the visiting TaiwanBeer HeroBears at National Taiwan University of Sport Gymnasium in Taichung.
T1 LEAGUE MVP of November
Also, in the T1 LEAGUE, New Taipei CTBC DEA small forward Mohammad Al Bachir Gadiaga, known to local fans as “Abbasi” (???), was named MVP of the month for November for his spectacular performance, the league said.
Out of the six games played in October and November, Abbasi posted an average of 24.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 0.8 steals to help his team capture a 3-3 record.
During his outing on Nov. 19 in an away game against the Leopards, Abbasi contributed 51 points to his team, which suffered a five-point 120-115 loss in front of over 15,000 fans at National Taiwan Sport University’s multipurpose arena in Taoyuan.
The DEA, which are now tied third with the suns in the league rankings with a 4-3 record, will next match up with the Taoyuan Leopards Dec. 17 at Xinzhuang Gymnasium in New Taipei.
Braves top Dreamers
Back in the P. LEAGUE+, the Braves topped the Formosa Taishin Dreamers 90-87 in an away game at Taichung Intercontinental basketball dome on Tuesday.
The Dreamers are now fourth in the P. LEAGUE+ standings with a 3-4 card. The Taichung-based team will have a chance for a rematch against the Braves at Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium on Sunday.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel