TNT gets 56 points from Hudson in stopping Converge run

TNT import Jalen Hudson takes on Converge import Jamaal Franklin in the PBA Governor’s Cup. – PBA PICTURES

Import Jalen Hudson may consider himself a good scorer, but his 56-point performance on Wednesday was still enough to surprise.

“I’ve always been known as a scorer, but this is my first at the professional level,” Hudson said after TNT’s 128-122 win that ended Converge’s 4-0 start in the Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup.

Hudson’s performance at the Smart Araneta Coliseum that gave Tropang Giga their fourth win in five games—highlighted by a key basket that allowed them to pull away from the FiberXers—earned a lot of reviews and gave TNT hope that the previous conference’s woes. now a distant memory.

“[Maybe in the] Top 100?” coach Jojo Lastimosa said when asked where he ranks Hudson among the imports he has seen dating back to his legendary playing career.

“Imports now are different from the way they were back and imports are really skilled. Jalen is one of the very athletic imports,” he added.

But since he was impressed with Hudson’s stat line that included 21-of-31 shooting along with 12 rebounds and four assists, Lastimosa and Tropang Giga’s staff are hoping to see the reinforcements produce more than just points.

“Now what I see is him being [an] entire [player], join other men,” said Lastimosa. “And eventually they will understand.”

Back in order

Tropang Giga had equaled the number of Commissioners’ Cup winners when injuries and a number of import changes led to an unusual early holiday for a team that was constantly in contention for the title.

It is again so TNT, however, thanks in large part to the way Hudson and local Mikey Williams, RR Pogoy and the new addition Paul Varilla play.

“Now we have a more complete team and we have a more dynamic import in Jalen,” Lastimosa said.

Converge lost for the first time this conference, ruining what was also a good effort from import Jamaal Franklin.

Franklin once again showed why he was one of the most productive imports in the tournament’s third week, posting 47 points on 15-of-29 from the field highlighted by nine triples.

He also grabbed 14 rebounds, dished out seven assists and added three steals and three blocks, but FiberXers ended up seeing the impressive ground running that stopped.

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