A souped-up Converge and foreign guest squad Eastern Long Lions take on separate opponents as the two squads headline the opening of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup on Nov. 27 at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Reinforced by former big man Cheick Diallo, along with the addition of former Gilas Pilipinas player Jordan Heading, the FiberXers take on the Terrafirma at 5 p.m.
The Hong Kong-based Eastern squad on the other hand, clashes with the Phoenix Fuelmasters in the 7:30 p.m. main game.
Heading, the 6-foot-2 Filipino-Australian guard, will be facing off with the Dyip, the team that selected him first overall in the PBA special draft in 2020.
He never got to play for Terrafirma after opting to play overseas. He was traded last week by the Dyip to the FiberXers in exchange for Aljun Melecio, Keith Zaldivar and the Season 51 first-round draft pick.
The 6-foot-8 Diallo, is a Malian forward who brings with him solid NBA credentials after playing for the New Orleans Hornets from 2016-2019. He also saw action for the Phoenix Suns in 2021 and Detroit Pistons in 2022.
He’ll be ranged against Terrafirma’s reinforcement Ryan Richards, a 6-11 big man, even as the Dyip welcome interim coach Raymund Tiongco in the fold in lieu of Johnson Cardel who was recently fired.
Meanwhile, NorthPort and NLEX clash in the conference’s second play date on Nov. 28 at 5 p.m.
Blackwater, which will have high-scoring George King as its import anew, faces the Ricardo Ratliffe-led Magnolia Chicken Timplados at 7:30 p.m. at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
On Nov. 29, Phoenix, reinforced by wide-bodied Donovan Smith, tangles with the Akil Mitchell-led Meralco at 5 p.m., while Converge faces Eastern at 7:30 p.m.
The games for the weekend will feature NLEX taking on Blackwater, while Terrafirma and NorthPort face off on Saturday, Nov. 30 at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
On Sunday, Dec. 1, Magnolia and Converge mix it up at 5 p.m., while Meralco battles Rain or Shine at 7:30 p.m. at the Ynares Center.
