PBA: San Miguel opens bid with new import Diamond Stone

Diamond Stone #0 of the Los Angeles Clippers blocks out Anthony Bennett #13 of the Brooklyn Nets during the second half of a game at Staples Center on November 14, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images/AFP

MANILA, Philippines—San Miguel Beer has tapped Diamond Stone as its new reinforcement ahead of its PBA Commissioner’s Cup debut.

The vaunted club is bringing in Diamond Stone, a 25-year-old American with NBA and international experience who is familiar with the Philippines’ style of play.

Drafted 40th overall in the 2016 NBA Rookie Draft, the 6-foot-10 big man played for a special, Allen Durham-led Meralco selection that competed in the 2018 Fiba Asia Champions Cup in Thailand.

Stone also played alongside veterans Reynel Hugnatan and Baser Amer who is now Blackwater’s lead playmaker.

Coincidentally, the Beermen open their title-retention bid against the 1-2 Bossing in a 3 p.m. clash set at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.

Stone averaged 23.6 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists in that stint with the Bolts.  He last saw action in the T1 League in Taiwan, suiting up for the TaiwanBeer HeroBears.

A league insider said that Stone has yet to be screened which includes a check on whether he is within the tournament’s height limit.

Thomas Robinson, San Miguel’s original choice for the midseason showcase, has been put on the injured/reserved list, as shown by an update on the league’s website.