The Meralco Bolts got back at Barangay Ginebra San Miguel on Friday, dealing the latter a resounding 97-88 beating at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The win improved the Bolts’ PBA Governors’ Cup record to 3-5 and dropped Ginebra to 2-4.
What Happened?
Meralco and Ginebra engaged in a tight opening frame, 21-20, as the two perennial contenders fought to get out of the cellar of Group B. The game was still deadlocked at 28 early in the second canto, but the Bolts outscored Ginebra, 21-13, the rest of the way to take a 49-41 advantage going into intermission.
The third quarter mirrored the first, with the two teams in a tight defensive battle that ended in a 20-20 standoff. This allowed the Bolts to take a 69-61 lead into the final frame, the early part of which Meralco continued to control. Ginebra then made its run, getting to within 81-78 at the 3:02 mark on a Riley Grigsby jumper. Meralco answered right back, with the debuting Jordon Varnado hitting a massive four-pointer from straight away to give the Bolts an 85-78 cushion and restore order.
Who Stood Out?
Varnado proved he was worth the wait, firing a team-high 31 points and making key baskets down the stretch. He added 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks in a stellar all-around effort. Chris Newsome backed him up with 18 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists, as well as a crucial jumper in regulation.
For Ginebra, Grigsby dropped a game-high 34 points on top of 10 rebounds in what is likely his final game for the barangay. RJ Abarrientos backed him up with 21 points and 4 assists.
3 Keys to the Game
- Second-chance points. The rebounding battle wasn’t that lopsided, with the Bolts outrebounding Ginebra by only one, 41-40. Meralco also won the offensive glass, but only by three, 16-13. However, the Bolts took full advantage, scoring 17 points off those 16 offensive boards. Ginebra, in contrast, scored only 7 from its 13 offensive caroms.
- Turnovers. The turnover battle wasn’t lopsided as well, but Ginebra had 15 miscues, which is one too many for a Tim Cone-coached team. Meralco, meanwhile, committed 12 turnovers.
- Jordon Varnado. Meralco’s original choice was as good as advertised, getting whatever shot he wanted and giving the Bolts a spark all game long. His four-pointer down the stretch was particularly huge.
Next Up for the PBA
Wednesday, October 7, 2026 | Ninoy Aquino Stadium
NLEX Road Warriors vs. Macau Giant Pandas (5:15 p.m.)
TNT Tropang 5G vs. Terrafirma Dyip (7:30 p.m.)
