Jalen Hudson’s days with the Converge FiberXers might be numbered.
The 30‑year‑old American finished with 12 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block in Converge’s 149‑124 rout of the Macau Giant Pandas on Friday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. That’s a decent stat line for a local but quite pedestrian for an import—especially for a returning reinforcement who once fired 56 points in the PBA.
Delta Pineda Gets Cryptic on Jalen Hudson
After the game, when asked about Jalen Hudson at the postgame presser, Converge coach Delta Pineda gave reporters a huge grin and turned cryptic. “Parang may nakita kayo. May napansin ba kayo?” Pineda asked rhetorically while grinning. “Napansin din namin e. ‘Wag na muna ko mag‑comment ngayon. Pero one thing, ‘yung napansin niyo, napansin ko rin…”
While it is unclear exactly what Pineda was referring to, one thing is abundantly clear: Hudson has been mediocre in three games so far this conference.
In fact, prior to his 12‑point, 5‑rebound outing versus Macau, the former TNT Tropang 5G scored a measly 2 points in the FiberXers’ close call against the Terrafirma Dyip. For this PBA Governors’ Cup, Hudson is putting up 7.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists and is looking nothing like the flamethrower he was in his first stint in the league.
Too Pressured?
Pineda later added some context, telling reporters that the pressure to perform seems to be getting ahead of Jalen Hudson.
“I think kelangan lang bigyan ng chance, bigyan ng pagkakataon. Sinabi ko nga sa kanya, tingin namin masyado siyang pressured inside the court. He needs to relax,” Pineda added.
Tellingly, Pineda was noncommittal when asked directly whether or not Hudson would still be the FiberXers’ import in their next game against the San Miguel Beermen on Wednesday, July 22, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
