Chris Newsome: A Basketball Star with a Heart of GoldChris Newsome: A Basketball Star with a Heart of Gold Chris Newsome, the Finals MVP of the recently concluded PBA Championship, has made a remarkable journey in basketball. From his humble beginnings in the Philippines to his 2013 interview with The Philippine Star, Newsome has proven that he is a true athlete. Newsome’s basketball skills are undeniable. Known for his athleticism and dunks, Newsome attributes his abilities to years of training, including plyometrics and track and field. Mentally, he credits his former college coach for teaching him the intricacies of the game, emphasizing the importance of strategy and teamwork. To prevent injuries, Newsome emphasizes stretching, strengthening, and agility exercises. He believes that maintaining a strong body is crucial for success in basketball. Beyond basketball, Newsome values his family above all else. He hopes to use his success in the Philippines to support his family both present and future. He envisions himself staying in the Philippines, where he has grown to love the Filipino culture. In an interview in 2013, Newsome revealed his passion for the game and his ambitions. He recognized the importance of teamwork and the impact of individual performance on the team’s success. He also discussed the training techniques that have contributed to his athleticism and the role of mental preparation in basketball. Newsome’s interview provides valuable insights into the mindset and values of a successful basketball player. His dedication to training, his passion for the game, and his commitment to his family are inspiring examples for aspiring athletes and anyone seeking to achieve their dreams.
Chris Newsome recently won the Finals MVP award in the recently concluded PBA Championship, where the Meralco Bolts captured 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 five-peat from 2008-2012. It was then that I had a long interview with Newsome in 2013.
Fast forward to today: Newsome averaged 22.5, 5.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists per game. He was also praised for his leadership and reliable clutch performance.
Chris Newsome expressed his gratitude to his PBA team for the generous loan to the Gilas national basketball team.
“Meralco Bolt’s 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. Since I got drafted, you were the ones believing in us,” Newsome said gratefully.
Shortly after the win, Newsome rejoined the Gilas team for the Olympic qualifier 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; and UP’s Carl Tamayo.
Gilas won their first game against Latvia, where Newsome played a key role together with Justin Brownlee. Although they lost their second game against Georgia by two points, Gilas still advanced to the semi-finals.
In an Instagram post, Chris Newsome said: “I will NEVER take wearing this shirt for granted!” Nike revealed that the national team’s new Gilas kits took players’ insights into the design process.
Brownlee led with 28 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in the second game, while the Atenean trio of Newsome, Ramos and Perez combined for 43 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists. Sotto was injured and did not appear in Game 2.
In an interview, Newsome admitted that he didn’t slow down after the PBA championship. He kept his training routine and his psyche ready for the Olympic qualifications.
“I’m excited to get started. We’re going to give ourselves a chance to try to get the Olympics for the country,” he said. The last time the Philippines played basketball at the Olympics was in the 1972 Munich Olympics. That was 52 years ago.
After their first-ever PBA championship, the team posted videos on Instagram that captured the sheer joy and ecstasy of the players for finally making it. This video screenshot is from Newsome and Chris Banchero, teammates and both half-Filipinos from the United States.
Being a part of basketball history must be Newsome’s destiny. He was part of the Philippines team that ended a 61-year drought of basketball gold medals at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. Four months earlier, Newsome was also part of the Philippines Gilas team that won gold at the 2023 Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia.
In honor of his winning streak, let’s look back at his 2013 interview to find out what made him so great.
Miss Universe-Philippines (Quezon City) Cam Lagmay with boyfriend Chris Newsome. Despite their busy schedules, they firmly believe that their relationship will flourish with understanding, patience and support.
THE PHILIPPINE STAR: How did you get started in basketball?
CHRIS NEWS: Basketball came to me naturally. My background started with my dad in my backyard. I would just watch him shoot around, and I would start shooting. 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 in middle school and high school, so I kind of just followed in his footsteps. I actually got into basketball pretty late, because I played football and baseball before I started basketball. I didn’t start until 7th grade, which is actually pretty late for now.
What made you decide to continue playing basketball?
I love the game. It’s a fun game. Soccer was fun, but there’s too many people on one team. Same 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 to make that individual impact and you can really work together as a team. It’s really that aspect of the game that I really enjoyed.
How did you end up in the Philippines?
When I was 19, a coach from Ateneo invited me because I was still eligible to go to college. I had no idea what Ateneo was or what their reputation was, but then they showed me around the campus. I was lucky enough to see an Ateneo-La Salle game. First Ateneo-La Salle game, first UAAP game, and I was just blown away. As soon as I saw all those people half in green, half in blue at the Araneta Coliseum, I was blown away! So I guess I was at the point where I thought I could stay in school for another year or come here and play for Ateneo and continue my career there.
What is your expertise? How did you get it?
I’m known for my dunks and my athleticism. They say my ability to jump as high as I do is a rarity. Actually, all of my training, just growing up, starting with football, gave me my speed and quickness. When I was training in high school, I did a lot of plyometrics specifically for that. I also did track and field in high school. Yeah, some people say athletes in the US get better nutrition, but I think it’s more about the training. That’s really why we go to the US to train. 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 US, he taught me to think about the game in a completely different way. It’s more than just putting the ball in the basket. He told me that basketball is like 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 player who can shoot well, you are responsible for making sure he makes the shots. If you have teammates who don’t match up in size, if you have a big player, you have to recognize that and take advantage of that within a few seconds.
How do you prevent injuries?
Always stretch and strengthen your body. But some injuries are inevitable. Accidents that happen unintentionally and unexpectedly happen. I just take care of my body and stay strong. Don’t get lazy or your body will get weak. I do skipping to keep my agility, and little things like that to refine what I do.
What lives in Chris Newsome’s heart?
One thing that is really close to my heart is my family. Of course, they mean the most to me, both future and current family. I know that there is a possibility to make money here. I can help them at home. Also, my mother likes to come here because she is from here. Originally, I wanted to take my grandmother with me before she passed away. She really wanted to come back to the Philippines before she passed away. I had her in mind when I first moved here. For my own family in the future, I would like to support my children by playing basketball here. Yeah, that is what I want to do. I can see myself staying here, I can see that happening. I like it here. Just the Filipino culture in general, I really like it.
