After weeks of waiting, Jordon Varnado finally made his much-anticipated debut for Meralco—and he made sure it was worth the wait.
Varnado erupted for 31 points in his first game for the Bolts, powering Meralco to a crucial 97-88 victory over Barangay Ginebra on Friday in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The victory snapped Meralco’s four-game losing streak and gave the Bolts a much-needed boost in their push for a quarterfinal berth in Group B. With the win, Meralco improved to 3-5, moving up to fifth place in the standings, while Ginebra slipped to 2-4 and dropped to sixth and last in the group.
Varnado Makes Immediate Impact
Varnado’s debut was highly anticipated after the import was forced to wait on the sidelines because of a calf strain suffered just before the conference began last month.
Despite the lengthy layoff, Varnado looked ready to make an impact.
The Meralco reinforcement finished with 31 points, six rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks, providing the offensive firepower the Bolts badly needed against a dangerous Ginebra squad.
He also showed his versatility throughout the contest, attacking the basket, knocking down shots from beyond the arc and making plays on both ends of the floor.
But his biggest impact came when the game was on the line.
Fourth-Quarter Takeover
Meralco entered the final quarter holding a comfortable advantage, but Ginebra refused to go away.
The Gin Kings managed to cut what had been a double-digit Meralco lead down to just 81-78, putting pressure on the Bolts and threatening to steal the momentum.
That was when Varnado took control.
The former sidelined import unleashed a personal 14-point explosion in the fourth quarter, answering every Ginebra challenge with big-time plays.
His stretch included a clutch four-point basket, a three-point play and a three-pointer, effectively extinguishing Ginebra’s comeback hopes.
Varnado’s ability to create his own shot and stretch the floor proved especially valuable in the closing minutes as Meralco maintained control and secured the victory.
“I did okay. Missed too many free throws at the end but I’m just glad we got the win and when we come back from the (league’s long) break, we have the opportunity to push forward,” Varnado said after the game.
His debut was not completely flawless. He had to deal with foul trouble and even experienced an injury scare during the contest. Still, the import remained aggressive and delivered when Meralco needed him most.
Trillo Praises His New Import
Meralco coach Luigi Trillo was impressed with what he saw from Varnado, particularly considering the import was playing his first game after a long layoff.
Trillo acknowledged that stepping into a crucial PBA game without much game rhythm was a difficult challenge, but Varnado quickly showed why Meralco brought him in.
“I think coming into a situation like that it’s very hard for Jordon because it’s his first game back. He’s been out of his rhythm but I thought he made a lot of big shots down the stretch,” Trillo said.
The coach also praised Varnado’s toughness, highlighting his willingness to compete despite already being in foul trouble.
“He’s a warrior, he likes to take the challenge, he’s got five fouls and he wanted to take on the import of the other side,” Trillo added.
More importantly, Trillo believes Varnado gives Meralco an added dimension.
The import can attack off the dribble, knock down three-pointers and create mismatches, allowing the Bolts to play at a quicker pace.
“He brings a lot of dimension to his game. He can put the ball on the floor, he can hit the three, we become a quicker team,” Trillo said.
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Newsome Delivers an All-Around Performance
While Varnado grabbed the headlines, Chris Newsome also played a major role in Meralco’s important victory.
Newsome finished with an impressive 18 points, eight rebounds and five assists, while committing zero turnovers.
His steady play helped Meralco maintain control during crucial stretches of the game.
One of his biggest contributions came late in the fourth quarter when Newsome converted a jumper off a Varnado feed to give Meralco an 87-80 lead.
That basket helped the Bolts regain separation after Ginebra had threatened to pull even.
Aaron Hodge also provided valuable support with 13 points, while Allein Maliksi Quinto added 10. The balanced contributions around Varnado allowed Meralco to withstand Ginebra’s offensive attack.
Grigsby Keeps Ginebra in the Fight
Ginebra had an outstanding individual performance of its own.
Riley Grigsby exploded for 34 points, 10 rebounds and three assists, keeping the Gin Kings within striking distance throughout the game.
RJ Abarrientos also chipped in 21 points, while Japeth Aguilar contributed 12.
Despite the strong performances from Grigsby and Abarrientos, Ginebra could not find enough offense in the final minutes to complete the comeback.
The defeat dropped the Gin Kings to 2-4, leaving them in sixth place in Group B.
Grigsby’s performance could also potentially be his final appearance for Ginebra in the conference, with resident import Justin Brownlee projected to return when the tournament resumes in October.
Meralco Gains Valuable Momentum
The victory could prove to be a major turning point for Meralco.
After losing four consecutive games, the Bolts desperately needed a win to keep their quarterfinal hopes alive. They got exactly that—and did so against one of the league’s most competitive teams.
More importantly, Meralco finally got to see what Varnado can bring to the lineup.
With the league set for a lengthy break, the Bolts now have time to regroup, get Varnado further acclimated to the system and prepare for the crucial stretch ahead.
For now, though, Meralco can celebrate a victory powered by the debut of an import who waited patiently for his opportunity.
And judging by his 31-point performance, Jordon Varnado’s wait was certainly worth it.
The Scores
MERALCO 97 – Varnado 31, Newsome 18, Hodge 13, Quinto 10, Brickman 8, Bates 6, Black 4, Cansino 4, Maliksi 3, Mocon 0, Banchero 0
GINEBRA 88 – Grigsby 34, Abarrientos 21, J. Aguilar 12, Rosario 6, Holt 5, Thompson 4, Torres 3, Gray 3, Cu 0, Abis 0, Pinto 0
QUARTERS: 21-20, 49-41, 69-61, 97-88
