Former Meralco import Diamond Stone joins SMB in sudden change ahead of PBA Comm's Cup debut

Former Meralco import Diamond Stone will play for San Miguel in the PBA Commissioner's Cup. FIBA (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MUNTINLUPA--San Miguel suddenly made an import switch ahead of its first game in the PBA Commissioner's Cup.

The league announced on Tuesday that Diamond Stone will replace former NBA fifth overall pick Thomas Robinson as the team's foreign reinforcement for its Wednesday game against Blackwater at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

Robinson has been revealed to have back spasms, which hamper his gear-up for his PBA debut, but he has been placed on the injured list in hopes that he will become healthy for the next games.

Stone is not a stranger to Philippine basketball as he was tapped as Meralco's import for the 2018 FIBA Asia Champions Cup.

Like Robinson, however, Stone, who previously played for Taiwan Beer in the T1 League, is only joining the PBA for the first time.

The Beermen open their campaign for back-to-back titles that would bring them closer to a grand slam in their 3 p.m. encounter against the 1-2 Bossing.

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno