Last conference, the Converge FiberXers kept giving the highly doubted but woefully ineffective Kylor Kelley chances to pick things up and prove his worth. But he never did, and the losses piled up—one after the other.
Converge finally pulled the plug on the Kelley experiment after nine games and a 3-6 record, replacing him with former Phoenix Fuel Masters reinforcement Donovan Smith. But it was too late, and a team with so much promise and expectations wound up out of the magic eight.
Now, in this PBA Governors’ Cup, it appears the FiberXers have learned their lesson.
Jalen Hudson Out, Jamaal Franklin In
Despite a more encouraging 3-1 start to this conference, Converge isn’t taking any chances anymore with an ineffective import, as it has informed the league office that it will be replacing Jalen Hudson with Jamaal Franklin.
Like Kelley, Hudson came in with high expectations after putting up 33.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.5 blocks across six games overall and five wins for the TNT Tropang 5G in the 2023 PBA Governors’ Cup. The 30-year-old American, however, looked a shell of his former explosive self this time around, averaging only 12.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 4.3 assists in four games.
Hudson’s lowest point came in Converge’s 105-103 escape act against the Terrafirma Dyip, where he scored a measly 2 points on 1-for-14 shooting.
Jamaal Franklin Needs No Introduction
Replacing Hudson is a man who needs no introduction in Jamaal Franklin. The do-it-all forward played for Converge during the same conference Hudson donned the TNT colors and impressed as well, leading the FiberXers to a 6-5 record while putting up 34.0 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 7.6 assists.
However, a supposed falling out with the coaching staff torpedoed what was shaping up to be a memorable tournament for Converge, as Franklin’s performance dipped at the tail end of the eliminations. This prompted management to replace him in the playoffs with Tom Vodanovich.
Since his PBA stint, Jamaal Franklin has played in the NBL in Australia and in the Chinese Basketball Association. Now, he’s coming in with unfinished business.
