Meralco recalls Jordon Varnado as PBA Governors’ Cup import

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The Meralco Bolts will be banking on familiarity once the PBA Governors’ Cup kicks off, bringing back two-way star Jordon Varnado in their quest for a first import-laced conference championship.

Varnado, Meralco’s reinforcement during the 2025 Basketball Champions League Asia, will be reuniting with his former teammates after a successful campaign in the Israeli Winner League.

The American enforcer was a beast during Meralco’s participation in the BCL, averaging 19.7 points and 10 rebounds in three games.

Against Shabab Al Ahli, Varnado immediately made his presence felt with 19 markers and eight rebounds, while nearly logging a triple-double against Utsunomiya Brex with 17 points, eight rebounds, and six assists.

Meralco nearly edged the XAC Broncos during the quarterfinals, but Varnado’s double-double of 23 points and 14 boards wasn’t enough to steer the Bolts to a breakthrough semis qualification in the BCL.

Signed by the MVP-backed franchise for his multidimensional scoring and athleticism, Varnado is expected to perform well in the Governors’ Cup and take the Bolts to greater heights.

One of Varnado’s most notable performances during the BCL was against the Broncos, where he defended the opposing team’s 3–5 positions, flaunting his ability to switch and guard any position on the hardwood.

Varnado had a four-year tenure with the Troy University Trojans, who competed in NCAA Division I basketball in the U.S.

From a one-dimensional face-up player, Varnado developed into an elite scorer at the forward position at Troy University, improving from 16.5 points per game in his sophomore year to 21.5 points in his senior year.

Varnado skipped the NBA draft after his college career and began his professional basketball career in Europe, signing with Egis Kormend in Hungary for his first import stint.

From Hungary, Varnado moved to Poland and Greece, further boosting his acquisition stock en route to a three-year run with the Pistoia Basketball Club in Italy.

Varnado will be joining an elite pool of imports for the upcoming PBA Governors’ Cup, alongside Justin Brownlee, Darius Days, George King, Aaron Fuller, DeQuan Jones, Kentrell Barkley, B.J. Johnson, KJ Buffen, and William Douglas.