Hudson embraces task of battling high scorers

TNT import Jalen Hudson. –PBA IMAGES

Jalen Hudson hurdled the first of two games against fellow imports who recently reached the half-century mark, a task that he has eagerly relished.

“I like those challenges,” Hudson said after leading TNT to a 131-109 win over Jordan Williams and Terrafirma on Saturday in the PBA Governors’ Cup.

Neither reinforcement hit the 50-point barrier this time at Mall of Asia Arena but produced big offensive numbers with Hudson going for 36 and Williams hitting a game-high 38.

But it was Hudson who ended up victorious as the Tropang Giga got their fifth victory in six outings in the season-ending conference.

“Jolas (TNT coach Jojo Lastimosa) kinda said to me last night and through practice that if he kinda gets going early, he would like me to kinda slow him down a little bit,” said Hudson.

Next up for Hudson is a duel with another import who had breached the 50-point mark as the Tropang Giga face Troy Williams and the struggling Blackwater Bossing on Wednesday at the same venue.

Williams dropped 55 in his maiden showing for the Bossing, but all that went down the drain against the Dyip, who were led by Jordan Williams’ 57.

TNT’s faceoff with Blackwater will serve as a leadup to a difficult schedule that awaits the squad.

Three of the four teams the Tropang Giga play after the Bossing encounter are against teams that are either the perceived favorites or among those on top of the standings, namely Meralco (Feb. 17), San Miguel Beer (Feb. 19) and Barangay Ginebra (March 17).

NorthPort (March 15) is the only team in the homestretch of TNT’s schedule that has a losing record.

Hudson missed just three shots against Terrafirma, at times looking like he was casually converting his outside attempts. Mikey Williams added 26 points.

Also key in the win which saw TNT pulling away in the second quarter after using the opening period to feel out Jordan Williams and Terrafirma were RR Pogoy, Calvin Oftana and veteran Kelly Williams.

“We knew that he was going to make shots even if it was contested and we’re okay with that,” Lastimosa said of the Terrafirma reinforcement.

“We changed it a little bit, we just don’t want him to get his groove by dribbling left and right. That’s one of our main keys for tonight. But a scorer can always score. Jordan is a really good player. We were okay if he made shots even if they were contested.”