MANILA, Philippines – Meralco Bolts swingman Chris Newsome is playing some of the best basketball right now as he has helped his squad to a 6-4 record — good for fifth spot in the 12-team PBA Philippine Cup.
Newsome hit a difficult game-winner for a 95-93 win over TerraFirma while he finished with 12 points, five rebounds and three assists.
“I think I am seeing the game much better now,” said Newsome a day after his side’s win inside the PBA bubble in Pampanga. “I am also finding the best way to use my abilities within our system. Having said that, I feel like my basketball IQ is much better now and the confidence that I am given by our coaches and my teammates has really helped.”
Added Newsome, “Coach Norman (Black) wasn’t a big outside shooter and he always tells me to go for high percentage shots when I can. I guess it all boils down to consistency.”
Newsome is in his fifth year in the PBA and like the rest of his teammates, is itching to give Meralco its first ever PBA crown after being denied four times now.
“Each finals loss has made my team and I hungrier and stronger. In this time, we’ve built this great culture at Meralco. We’ve also added people who have won on different levels and that adds to what we can do to take it to the next level. The mission more than ever is to bag that elusive championship.”