There is no question the Meralco Bolts are a far better team
when Chris Newsome is healthy. That was not the case in the Commissioner’s Cup,
the entirety of which Newsome missed due to a left calf injury.
But that is the case now in this Governors’ Cup. And,
perhaps unsurprisingly, the Bolts are headed back to the semis after edging
past the Magnolia Hotshots, 113-107, in an overtime thriller at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday.
Leading the way, of course, was Newsome, who dropped a
game-high 33 points on top of 11 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals. After the
game, the high-flying Fil-Am admitted how missing last conference drove him to
work even harder to get back out on the court and help Meralco—something
he couldn’t do in the Commissioner’s Cup, when the Bolts missed the playoffs
completely.
“I missed all of last conference, and it was tough to just
watch and be on the sidelines… That wasn’t a feeling we liked or enjoyed . . . ,
and I think that made us hungry coming into this season,” Newsome pointed out. “We
were familiar with KJ [McDaniels] already, so that helped a lot with our chemistry. It was
just getting me in there, getting me back to 100% so I can actually contribute
to the team. No one likes watching their team from the sidelines, especially
when they need you in big games . . . .”
The Bolts needed
Newsome on Wednesday night. They needed Newsome to be awesome against a very game,
very determined, and very talented Magnolia squad looking to force a rubber
match.
Newsome responded in a most awesome way imaginable, doing practically
everything for the Bolts.
“I’m not really about the stats . . . What I do is strictly
what the team needs me to do,” said Newsome. “I’m always working hard, I’m trying to improve
my game every single day. And so that way, whenever that time comes and coach
asks me to do something, it won’t be a question on whether I can or not. I’ll
be up for the challenge.”
On Wednesday night, Newsome was up for the challenge all
right. But an even bigger challenge awaits: the top-seeded TNT Tropang Giga.
At least now, though, Newsome is healthy enough to do
something about it.