The awesome Chris Newsome
Chris Newsome recently emerged triumphant as Finals MVP in the recently concluded PBA championship, where the Meralco Bolts got their very first championship title after four previous finals appearances.
Newsome was a rookie and part of the starting line-up of Ateneo in 2013, the year after the famed Blue Eagles’ UAAP five-peat from 2008-2012. It was when I had a lengthy interview with Newsome way back in 2013.
Fast forward to today: Newsome averaged 22.5, 5.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists per game. He was also hailed for his leadership and dependable clutch performance.
“Meralco Bolts family, do you believe?” he asked, chanting the team’s mantra. “Thank you for believing in us since Game One. Nobody believed in us but us. Ever since I was drafted, you were the ones who believed in us,” Newsome said with gratitude.
Shortly after the win, Newsome rejoined the Gilas team for its Olympic qualifying bid in the FIBA tournament in Latvia. The 33-year-old athlete has other UAAP stars as Gilas teammates such as fellow Ateneans CJ Perez, Dwight Ramos and Kai Sotto; De La Salle Archers Jamie Malonzo and Kevin Quiambao; as well as UP’s Carl Tamayo.
Gilas won their first game against Latvia where Newsome played a lead role together with Justin Brownlee. While they lost their second game against Georgia by two points, Gilas still advanced to the semi-finals.
Brownlee led with 28 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists in the second game, while the Atenean trio of Newsome, Ramos, and Perez had a combined 43 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists. Sotto was injured and did not appear in Game 2.
In an interview, Newsome admitted that he did not slow down after the PBA championship. He kept his training routine and his psyche ready for the Olympic qualifiers.
“I’m excited to get to work. We’re gonna give ourselves a chance to try to get to the Olympics for the country,” he said. The last time the Philippines participated in basketball during the Olympics was in the 1972 Munich Olympics. That was 52 years ago.
Being part of basketball history must be in Newsome’s destiny. He was part of the Philippine Team that ended a 61-year basketball gold medal drought during the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. Four months before that, Newsome was also part of the Gilas Philippine team that won gold in the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia.
Celebrating his winning streak, let’s look back at his interview in 2013 to check out what made him awesome.
THE PHILIPPINE STAR: How did you get into basketball?
CHRIS NEWSOME: Basketball came to me naturally. My background started with my dad in my backyard. I just saw him shooting around, then I’d start shooting. My dad would always go to the nearest recreational center to play, so I’d always watch him. As I got older, my older brother played on the middle school and high school varsity, so I kind of just followed in his footsteps. I actually started playing basketball late because I played American football and baseball first before getting into basketball. I didn’t start playing until Grade 7, which is actually pretty late for now.
What made you stick to basketball?
I love the game. It’s a fun game. Soccer was fun, but there are too many people on one team. The same goes with American football. You can make an impact, but with everyone else, it’s hard to make an individual impact. In basketball, you really get the chance to make that individual impact and you really get to work together as a team. It’s really just that aspect of the game that I really liked.
How did you end up playing in the Philippines?
When I was 19, a coach of Ateneo invited me since I still had college eligibility. I had no idea what Ateneo was or their reputation but then they showed me around campus. I was fortunate enough to see an Ateneo-La Salle game. First Ateneo-La Salle game, first UAAP game, and I was completely blown away. As soon as I saw all those people half in green, half in blue at the Araneta Coliseum, I was amazed! So I think basically I was at that point where I was thinking I could either stay at my school for one more year or come out here and play for Ateneo and take my career from there.
What’s your expertise? How did you get it?
I’m known for my dunks and athletic abilities. They say my ability to jump as high as I do is kind of a rare thing. Basically all my training, just growing up, starting out with soccer, got me my speed and quickness. Training in HS, I had a lot of plyometrics specifically for that. I also did track and field in HS. Yeah, some people say athletes in the States get better nutrition, but for the most part, I think it’s the training. That’s basically why we go train in the States. The trainers know a lot more about basketball, a lot more of the science behind it, more than just the aspect of playing basketball.
Mentally, I learned a lot from my first college coach Joe Harge. I was a point guard in the US, he taught me how to think about the game a lot differently. It goes more than putting [the] ball in the basket. He told me basketball is like a chess game: as a point guard, you control the team. You have different pieces and you need to know how to use them. If you have a guy who can shoot well, you’re responsible for getting him to make the shots. If you have teammates who mismatch in size, if you have a big man you have to recognize that and exploit that in a matter of seconds.
How do you avoid injuries?
Stretch and always strengthen your body. But some injuries are unpreventable. Accidents that happen unintentionally and unexpectedly do occur. I just take care of my body and stay strong. Don’t get lazy or your body gets weak. I do jump rope to keep my agility, and little things like that to fine-tune what I do.
What is in the heart of Chris Newsome?
One thing that’s really in my heart is my family. Of course, they mean the most to me, both future and present family. I know there’s an opportunity to make money here. I can help them at home. Also, my mom loves coming here cause she’s from here. Originally, my intention was to bring my grandma before she passed away. She really wanted to come back to the Philippines before she died. I had her in mind when I made the initial move here. For my own family in the future, I would like to support my children by playing basketball here. Yeah, that’s what I want to do. I see myself staying here, I do see that happening. I like it here. Just the Philippine culture in general, I find it really nice.
