Beermen to roll with StoneBeermen to roll with Stone
DIAMOND Stone will power San Miguel when it faces Blackwater in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup. Photo by Sean M. Haffey / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP
Games Wednesday:
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
3 p.m. – Blackwater vs San Miguel
5:45 p.m. – Magnolia vs TNT
With original choice Thomas Robinson injured, San Miguel Beer will be parading another powerhouse import when it opens its campaign in the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner's Cup today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The newly-crowned Beermen will be bannered by Diamond Stone when it faces Blackwater at 3 p.m. before the 5:45 p.m. encounter between TNT Tropang Giga and Magnolia.
The 6-foot-10 Stone will be coming in as a replacement for Thomas, who was supposed to become the second highest National Basketball Association draft pick to see action in the PBA.
Stone is no stranger to local action.
He played for the United States with future NBA players like Jayson Tatum, Harry Giles, and Josh Jackson in the FIBA U17 World Championships in Dubai in 2014, where they faced future PBA players Mike and Matt Nieto, Paul Desiderio, and Jollo Go in the pool play.
Then, he was taken by the New Orleans Hornets with the 40th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft before suiting up with the Los Angeles Clippers.
He went on to see action for various NBA G League teams before playing for Taiwan Beer HeroBears in the T1 League, where he earned the reputation of being a prolific scorer.
Stone, who also suited up for Meralco in the FIBA Asia Champions Cup in 2018, was scheduled to arrive on Tuesday, just in time for the Beermen's game against Blackwater.
"He is the best available option in such a short period of time," a source said, adding that the Beermen has the option to either continue rolling with Stone or field Robinson when they face Rain or Shine on Sunday and Bay Area a week later.