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| Jordon Varnado delivered in his long-awaited PBA debut. Peter Baltazar |
QUEZON CITY—Jordon Varnado delivered the much-needed boost for Meralco as he led the team to a 97-88 win against Ginebra in the last PBA Governors' Cup game before the long Gilas Pilipinas break on Friday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Varnado, the designated opening-night import for the Bolts, but had to sit out the first seven games of the conference due to a hamstring injury, was activated in hopes of keeping their playoff hopes alive.
It turned out to be the right move as he dropped 31 points in his PBA debut, even as his team slowly pulled away from the Gin Kings.
Varnado also had six rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two blocks as Meralco will enter the two-month ceasefire with a 3-5 record, snapping a four-game slide with two games left in their group stage stint.
Chris Newsome added 18 points on 7 of 13 shooting, eight rebounds, five assists, two steals, and one block.
Riley Grigsby fired 34 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, one steal, and two blocks for Ginebra, which fell to the bottom of Group B at 2-4.
RJ Abarrientos added 21 points on 7-for-12 field goals and four assists.
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