Aside from the Meralco Bolts' pivotal campaign in the PBA and EASL, Chris Newsome also has Gilas Pilipinas duties ahead in February.
Chris Newsome and the Meralco Bolts have much to look forward to in the coming weeks—not just in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup but also in the 2024-25 EASL season.
With just a few weeks left in the elimination round, the Bolts are still vying for a twice-to-beat advantage in the Commissioner’s Cup with a 7-3 record.
Meralco also has a shot at becoming the first PBA team to make it to the EASL Final Four.
Newsome also has Gilas Pilipinas duties at the back of his mind, with the national team set for the third window of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers in February.
That’s why for the 34-year-old superstar guard, it’s about playing at his best to be able to get the job done no matter what.
“Right now, you have to play your best basketball and it doesn't matter what league that's in. I got Gilas duties as well so this next month and a half or two months for me, I definitely have to play my best basketball,” Newsome told reporters after Meralco’s 74-89 loss to the Ryukyu Golden Kings.
“As a captain, I also got to be able to empower my guys to be able to be at their best and keep pushing my teammates to be at their best, so that way we can really compete and give ourselves a chance at getting to the Final Four, at getting to the semifinals of the PBA,” he added.
Despite the Bolts’ loss to the Golden Kings, the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup champions still have a shot at making it to the EASL Final Four.
[ALSO READ: Why did Akil Mitchell sit out Meralco’s crucial EASL match vs Ryukyu?]
Standing in their way is the Jeremy Lin-led New Taipei Kings, which they will face on February 12 in Taiwan.
Newsome hopes to turn the loss into lessons as they vie for two championships in a span of two months.
“I think this game is a good thing for us in how it played out. We were definitely hurt by that loss against Korea [Busan KCC Egis]. That was a tough one for us and I think it was that loss that got us back on track in the PBA,” said Newsome.
“You can say that this loss could very well be what can get us on track coming for the next game in Taipei and also moving forward in the PBA as well because now it's playoff time,” he added.