CONVERGE recruited a former NBA player for its import in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, with an assist coming from Matthew Wright.
The FiberXers will be bringing in Cheick Diallo to reinforce the franchise in the mid-season conference which kicks off on Nov. 27.
Deputy coach Charles Tiu personally handpicked the product of the Kansas Jayhawks basketball program who was selected by the LA Clippers in the second round of the 2016 NBA draft.
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The 28-year-old Diallo, a native of Republic of Mali, also happened to be a former teammate of former PBA and Gilas player Matthew Wright with Kyoto Hannaryz in the Japan B.League.
“I learned they’re teammates in Japan, so Matthew Wright helped me convince him,” said Tiu of Mali, who played with Wright during the 2023-24 season.
Diallo was a top high school prospect out of Centereach, New York just five years after arriving in the US.
That became his ticket to play for the Jayhawks in the NCAA in a one-and-done stint before declaring himself available for the NBA draft in 2016.
Although picked by the Clippers, Diallo was later traded to the New Orleans Pelicans, where he played for three seasons.
In 2019, he signed a two-year deal with the Phoenix Suns.
Curiously, he had his best season during his last year with the Pelicans, averaging 6.0 points in 64 games, while suiting up in the playoffs.
Diallo also had a brief stint with Detroit in the 2021-22 season.
He also played overseas in Russia, Spain, Puerto Rico, and Japan, while also suiting up in the G. League.
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