Gilas Prepares For Intense Training At Brisbane

The Philippine men’s basketball team warms up for its campaign in the third window of the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers as it undergoes a weeklong training camp in Brisbane, Australia.

Gilas Pilipinas departed last 23 June for Down Under, with coach Tim Cone leading his 12-man roster.

Familiarity With The Bolts Is What Varnado Brings

Jordon Malik Varnado, the import of the Meralco Bolts in the 2026 Governor's Cup, was born on 12 May 1997. He is the son of Janice and Winston Varnado, and the younger brother of former Mississippi State star Jarvis Varnado. Jarvis currently holds the NCAA record for career blocked shots with 564.

Jordon is a solid 6-foot-6 power forward who played for Haywood High School. He led the Tomcats to a 35-2 record and a TSSAA Class AA State Championship in his senior season, the school’s first-ever state title.

Macau Is Back In The PBA

There will be a guest team in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup, and it will be the Macau Black Knights again. Only this time, Macau will go by the moniker Giant Pandas as they hope to improve on their performance from the midseason tourney.

The Giant Pandas — will be bannered by the same core of Jenning Leung, Damian Chong Qui, Phoenix Shackelford, and Ray Cao. However, Leung, who grew up in Laguna here in the Philippines, will be available only in August, according to veteran scribe Quinito Henson, as he has a prior commitment to play in another league.

The Bolts Is Bringing Back Jordon Varnado

The Meralco Bolts are a familiar face next conference after they decided to get Jordon Varnado back as their import for the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup.

If the name rings a bell, it’s because Varnado has already played for the Bolts—but in the Basketball Champions League Asia in 2025. The announcement came through the team’s official social media channels last 22 June.

Bolts 95, TnT 103

Chris McCullough lived up his promise of a better performance by scoring 42 points in lifting TNT to a 103-95 win and a 3-2 lead in their PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals series last 29 May at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The points were 18 more than what McCullough produced in his first game back and he highlighted it all up with four straight baskets – off back-to-back triples, a spin move and a jumper – in a stirring one-man show that gave the Tropang 5G a 98-91 lead.