Meralco is bringing in Antonio Hester as a substitute for Jordon Varnado to ensure that it won’t play all-Filipino in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup.
Team manager Paolo Trillo said that the Bolts will welcome the seasoned import this Thursday, in time for their meeting with Rain or Shine on Saturday in a clash of Group B teams that flunked their respective conference debuts.
“Kasi mabilisan lang so we wanted someone that’s a bit familiar with our league,” he told reporters moments after their narrow 98-97 defeat to Kenneth Tuffin’s Phoenix on Wednesday night at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
“He was available naman, so we’re bringing him in. He’s arriving tomorrow,” the amiable executive added.
“He’ll make it for Saturday’s game.”
Meralco had to fly in another reinforcement after Varnado suffered a minor calf strain during one of their practices leading up to the season-ending tilt.
It was almost the same situation during their first partnership last year for the Basketball Champions League Asia, when he suffered an Achilles injury before the tilt but played through it, as recalled by head coach Luigi Trillo.
And it’s unfortunate that the injury bug hit him again this time, forcing him to sit helplessly on the sidelines as his Bolts absorbed a one-point loss.
However, the Tennessee-native won’t be fully replaced, as it depends on how soon he can recover — he’s listed as day-to-day for now.
But obviously, Meralco can’t afford to wait and see, prompting the front office to search for a fill-in, eventually finding Hester.
“Jordon’s with us. We’re putting him on the reserve list for now. It’s a minor injury. He’s day-to-day. But we need an import to play,” said Trillo.
With Hester, the Bolts get a wide-bodied wing who has PBA experience, having played for Terrafirma and Magnolia.
He last played for the Dyip before the Season 49 Governors’ Cup in 2024 as a replacement for Brandon Edwards, who suffered an ACL injury then.
That marked his second stint with the franchise and third overall. Now, he’s set for another gig in Asia’s first pro league for a team hoping to get over the hump after reaching the semis in this season’s first two conferences.
The native of Miami, Florida last played in Indonesia for the Rajawali Medan in the 2026 IBL season, where he averaged 25.1 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists to earn a spot in the league’s All-Second Team.
