Jordon Varnado’s debut for the Meralco Bolts was delayed by over a month due to a calf strain, with Antonio Hester filling in as the team’s import in the meantime. Now healthy enough to finally take the floor, Varnado made sure that he was worth the wait.

Varnado kicked off the game with a steal, then went coast-to-coast for a dunk, emphatically announcing his arrival from the opening tip.

The 29-year-old exploded for a game-high 31 points, six rebounds, four assists, three steals, and two blocks in his first game with Meralco, leading the Bolts to a 97-88 win over Barangay Ginebra San Miguel that snapped a four-game losing streak. He was actually quite inefficient, hitting 12 of 29 from the field for 41.4 percent shooting, including 2 of 7 from three-point range, 1 of 4 from the four-point line, and 3 of 5 at the free-throw line while also committing five turnovers.

However, he made up for it with a strong all-around performance, and the shooting numbers should eventually improve as he shakes off the rust.

Varnado saved his best for the fourth quarter, when he took over down the stretch to keep Ginebra at arm’s length. With 2:37 left to play, he scored 12 of Meralco’s final points, opening with a four-pointer that pushed the lead to 85-78, before adding a jumper, a free throw, a three-pointer, and two more free throws in the closing minute to help seal the 97-88 win. He also delivered a highlight-reel block on opposing import Riley Grigsby at the rim in that same stretch.

Though this was his PBA debut, this was not Varnado’s first taste of action with Meralco. He appeared in three games for the Bolts in last year’s Basketball Champions League Asia, averaging 19.7 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 3.3 assists.

The 6-foot-7 forward has built a well-traveled career since starring at Troy from 2015 to 2019, where he twice earned All-Sun Belt honors and averaged 21.5 points and 7.8 rebounds as a senior. Since turning pro, he has made stops across Europe that include Hungary, Italy, Poland, Greece, and now Israel, highlighted by being named Italian Serie A2 Player of the Year in 2023.

With the win, Meralco improved to 3-5 in Group B, good for fifth place and just ahead of Ginebra with two games still to play; the top four teams in each group advance. If Varnado’s debut is any indication, the Bolts may have found the boost that they need to make a late push for a playoff berth.