TNT parades Euro veteran

‘Jalen will arrive on Thursday at 4 a.m. from Los Angeles.’

A European circuit campaigner will power TNT Tropang Giga when it competes in the Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup.

Jalen Hudson is set to arrive today to serve as the Tropang Giga reinforcement in the season-ending conference that kicks off right after the Commissioner’s Cup best-of-seven series between Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and Bay Area Dragons. The series is tied at 1-1 at press time.

After getting undrafted in the 2019 National Basketball Association Rookie Draft, the 26-year-old Hudson was able to suit up for the Summer League team of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Playing for the Cavs didn’t come as a surprise.

The 6-foot-6 swingman was a product of Saint Vincent-Saint Mary High School in Akron, Ohio — the same school that produced NBA superstar LeBron James and former PBA import Romeo Travis.

Then, Hudson played for Virginia Tech and Florida in college in which he had a remarkable game of 35 points laced with eight three-pointers in a 111-105 overtime victory over Gonzaga on 25 November 2017.

Hudson failed to crack into the Cavs roster, but ended up in the G League, where he played for Capital City Go-Go, before packing his bags for Europe to see action for Telekom Baskets Bonn in the Basketball Bundesliga in Germany.

But it was in Greece where Hudson’s skill set was utilized as he poured in 13.1 points and 5.2 rebounds in 28 minutes per contest.

TNT team manager Jojo Lastimosa confirmed to Daily Tribune Hudson’s date of arrival.

“Jalen will arrive on Thursday at 4 a.m. from Los Angeles,” Lastimosa said.

One of the PBA’s 25 Greatest Players and a member of Alaska’s grand slam team in 1996, Lastimosa moved to TNT this season after spending the past few years as part of the coaching staff of NLEX. He likes some of the things he saw from Hudson’s game. “He can slash to the basket and finish strong,” Lastimosa added.