PBA: Jamaal Franklin returns to Converge, replaces Jalen Hudson

Jamaal Franklin returns to Converge to replace the slumping Jalen Hudson. PBA Images (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA—Jamaal Franklin is back with Converge.

The team announced on Monday that the former NBA player will don the purple-and-white again, replacing Jalen Hudson.

Just like in his first stint in 2023 when he took over for Ethan Rusbatch, Franklin, a former second-round pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, is coming on as a replacement import.

Franklin had explosive numbers of 34.0 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 7.6 assists per game for the FiberXers, which was vital in their eventual entry to the playoffs.

Now under the tutelage of current head coach Delta Pineda, they hope that Franklin will notch similar numbers again as he takes over for Hudson, who struggled to replicate his solid debut for them in the PBA Governors' Cup.

After scoring 20 points in a blowout win against Titan Ultra, Hudson was held to a combined 29 points in the last three games, including a dismal two points in Converge's next win against Terrafirma.

While his numbers gradually improved in the next two games, Hudson still found it difficult to score 20 or more again, and Pineda admitted that he had been keenly observing Hudson's struggles.

"Parang may nakita kayo, ah. May napansin ba kayo? Napansin din namin," Pineda said after the FiberXers' last win against the Macau Giant Pandas.

He kept mum about Hudson's fate even during Converge's previous loss against San Miguel, but four days after the said game, the FiberXers decided to pull the plug on Hudson.

Franklin will make his Converge return against TNT on Tuesday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Had the FiberXers decided to defer an import switch, it would have been Hudson's first game against the Tropang 5G, his former team.

Interestingly enough, Hudson had to be relieved of his position as TNT's import back then, too, despite solid numbers, replacing him with another NBA veteran, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.

It turned out to be the winning move as the team went on to rack up championships under Hollis-Jefferson.