Beermen buying out import Onuaku from NBA D-League team

MANILA, Philippines – The San Miguel Beermen are in the process of buying out 27-year-old Syracuse University product Arinze Onuaku from his NBA D-League team, the Canton Charge, to bring him in as their import for the 2015 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

Onuaku’s representation in the Philippines, basketball agent Sheryl Reyes, told Rappler on Saturday, January 3, that the Beermen are currently paying Onuaku’s buy-out charges from his D-League team before signing him as their import for the upcoming conference that begins on January 27.

“We have received the offer sheet and now the buy-out is being processed,” Reyes told Rappler. “Arinze has verbally said his interest of wanting to be bought out so we are working on that now, but he has not yet signed (with San Miguel) since he is still under contract in the D-League.”

“Once his D-League team receives the [buy-out] payment, he will sign (with San Miguel).”

Onuaku played for 4 years with the Syracuse Orange. He had his best campaign in his senior season, where he put up 10.5 PPG, 5.1 RPG, and 1.1 BPG in 32 games.

Onuaku went undrafted in the 2010 NBA Draft but has played a total of 5 NBA games with the New Orleans Pelicans and Cleveland Cavaliers, averaging 1.0 PPG in 6 minutes per outing.

He’s spent most of his career in the NBA D-League with the Canton Charge. He was a member of the D-League Third Team in 2014 and made the league’s All-Star game twice in 2013 and 2014. 

The Beermen, currently 13-2 in the 2015 PBA Philippine Cup, are waiting to face either the Alaska Aces or Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the conference finals.

Here are some of Onuaku’s highlights from the 2013-2014 NBA D-League season.

– Rappler.com