The great Chris Newsome • PhilSTAR Life

Chris Newsome recently emerged as the Most Valuable Player of the Finals of the recently concluded PBA Championship, where the Meralco Bolts won their first-ever championship title after four previous finals appearances.

Newsome was a rookie and part of Ateneo’s starting lineup in 2013, the year after the Blue Eagles’ famous UAAP quintuple-winning run from 2008 to 2012. Back then, I had a long interview with Newsome in 2013.

Fast forward to today, Newsome averaged 22.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. He was also praised for his leadership and reliable performance in crucial situations.

“Meralco Bolts family, do you believe in this?” he asked, chanting the team’s mantra. “Thank you for believing in us since the first game. No one believed in us but us. Since I was drafted, you were the ones who believed in us,” Newsome said gratefully.

Shortly after the win, Newsome rejoined the Gilas team that qualified for the Olympics through the FIBA ​​tournament in Latvia. The 33-year-old athlete has other UAAP stars as Gilas teammates, including fellow Ateneans players CJ Perez, Dwight Ramos and Kai Sotto, De La Salle Archers Jamie Malonzo and Kevin Quiambao, and UP’s Carl Tamayo.

Gilas won their first game against Latvia, in which Newsome played a leading role along with Justin Brownlee. Although they lost their second game against Georgia by two points, Gilas still made it to the semifinals.

Brownlee led the way in Game 2 with 28 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, while the Atenean trio of Newsome, Ramos and Perez combined for 43 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists. Sotto was injured and did not play in Game 2.

In an interview, Newsome admitted that he did not slow down after the PBA Championship. He maintained his training routine and was mentally ready for the Olympic qualifiers.

“I’m excited to get to work. We’re going to give ourselves a chance to get to the Olympics for the country,” he said. The last time the Philippines participated in the Olympics in basketball was at the 1972 Munich Olympics. That was 52 years ago.

It must be Newsome’s destiny to become part of basketball history. He was part of the Philippine team that ended a 61-year gold medal drought in basketball at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. Four months earlier, Newsome was also part of the Philippine Gilas team that won gold at the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia.

To celebrate his winning streak, let’s look back at his 2013 interview to find out what made him so great.

THE PHILIPPINE STAR: How did you get into basketball?

CHRIS NEWSOME: Basketball was a natural thing for me. My past started with my dad in my backyard. I just saw him throwing around, then I started throwing. My dad would always go to the nearest recreation center to play, so I would always watch him. As I got older, my older brother played on the middle and high school team, so I just followed in his footsteps. I actually started playing basketball late because I played American football and baseball first before I started playing basketball. I didn’t start playing until 7th grade, which is actually pretty late.

What made you decide to stay in basketball?

I love the game. It’s fun. Soccer was fun, but there are too many people on a team. The same goes for American football. You can make an impact, but in all the others it’s hard to make an impact as an individual. In basketball you really get a chance to make an impact as an individual and you can really work together as a team. It’s really just that aspect of the game that I really enjoyed.

How did you end up playing in the Philippines?

When I was 19, a coach from Ateneo invited me since I still had college eligibility. I had no idea what Ateneo was or what reputation they had, but then they showed me around the campus. I was lucky enough to see an Ateneo vs. La Salle game. The first Ateneo vs. La Salle game, the first UAAP game, and I was completely blown away. When I saw all those people, half in green, half in blue, at the Araneta Coliseum, I was ecstatic! I think I was basically at the point where I thought I could either stay at my school for another year or come here and play for Ateneo and take my career from there.

What is your area of ​​expertise? How did you acquire it?

I’m known for my dunks and my athletic ability. They say my ability to jump that high is pretty rare. Basically all my training, starting with soccer as a kid, gave me my speed and reaction time. In high school I did a lot of plyometrics specifically for that. I also did track in high school. Yes, some people say athletes eat better in the States, but I think it’s largely because of the training. That’s basically why we train in the States. The coaches know a lot more about basketball, a lot more about 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 USA, he taught me to look at the game completely differently. It’s about more than just putting the ball in the basket. He told me that basketball is like a game of chess: as a point guard, you control the team. You have different pieces and you have to know how to use them. If you have a guy who can shoot well, you are responsible for him making the shots. If you have teammates who are not as tall as you, if you have a big man, you have to recognize that and take advantage in a matter of seconds.

How do you avoid injuries?

Always stretch and strengthen your body. However, some injuries are unavoidable. Accidents that are unintentional and unexpected happen. I just take care of my body and stay strong. Don’t get lazy or your body will get weak. I jump rope to maintain my flexibility and do little things like that to refine what I do.

What is in the heart of Chris Newsome?

One thing that is really important to me is my family. Of course, they mean the most to me, both my future family and my current family. I know there are opportunities to make money here. I can help them at home. Also, my mother likes to come here because she’s from here. Originally, I wanted to get my grandmother before she died. She really wanted to come back to the Philippines one more time before she died. I had her in mind when I moved here. As for my own family in the future, I want to support my children by playing basketball here. Yes, that’s what I want to do. I can see myself staying here, I can see that happening. I like it here. I find the Filipino culture in general really nice.