Chris Newsome

Christopher Elijah Newsome (born July 25, 1990) is a Filipino American professional basketball player for the Meralco Bolts of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Chris Newsome
No. 11 – Meralco Bolts
PositionGuard / Small forward
LeaguePBA
Personal information
Born (1990-07-25) July 25, 1990
San Jose, California
NationalityFilipino / American
Listed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High schoolRio Rancho
(Rio Rancho, New Mexico)
College
PBA draft2015 Round: 1 / Pick: 4th overall
Selected by the Meralco Bolts
Playing career2015–present
Career history
2015–presentMeralco Bolts
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's 3x3 basketball
Representing  Philippines
Southeast Asian Games
2019 PhilippinesTeam

Early life and high school career

Newsome was born in San Jose, California. He is the second child of Carmelita (née Duque), a Filipina, who hails from Parañaque and Eric, an African American. He has an older brother, Eric Jr. and younger sisters Nishelle and Melissa. When the Newsomes moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, he attended his secondary education at Rio Rancho High School. His first sport was baseball and football, but did not play basketball until he reached seventh grade.[1][2] He helped the Rio Rancho HS Rams win the 5A State Championship in 2007.[3]

College career

Newsome attended the New Mexico Highlands University, an NCAA Division II school for three years.[4][5] In his final season with the Cowboys in 2011, he averaged 10.1 points and 4.2 rebounds per outing.[6] He was recruited by then-Ateneo head coach Norman Black to play for the Blue Eagles and for the Philippine national team that will play for the Southeast Asian Games.[7] He accepted the offer and spent two years of residency (as per UAAP rules for foreign students) before finally seeing action for Ateneo in 2013.[8][9] In his final season with the Blue Eagles, he posted averages of 14 PPG and 8 RPG while earning a spot among the UAAP Season 77 Mythical 5 team.[10]

Amateur career

Newsome suited up for the Hapee Fresh Fighters in the PBA D-League, where he teamed up with fellow college standouts and future draft batchmates Troy Rosario, Baser Amer, Garvo Lanete and Scottie Thompson.[11] Together, they helped the Fresh Fighters win its first ever PBA D-League title in 2015.[12]

Professional career

Newsome was drafted fourth overall by the Meralco Bolts in the 2015 PBA draft, reuniting with his former collegiate coach Norman Black.[13] A few days after the draft, he signed a three-year deal with the Bolts.[14]

In his PBA debut on October 28, 2015, he finished with a team-high-tying 14 points, including two on a highlight slam dunk over San Miguel's Arwind Santos.[15] Newsome quickly rose to stardom. He participated in the PBA All-Star Weekend Slam Dunk Contest, making it to the final round only to lose to two-time defending champion, Rey Guevarra. He became a key player in Meralco's rotation as the season went on. He helped Meralco get to the Semi-Finals of the 2016 PBA Commissioner's Cup and to the Finals of the 2016 PBA Governors' Cup before eventually losing to the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.

He was named as the PBA Rookie of the Year 2016 during the PBA Leo Awards Night. Other nominees for the league's newcomer trophy are Maverick Ahanmisi, Arthur Dela Cruz, Troy Rosario and Moala Tautuaa.[16]

PBA career statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

As of the end of 2020 season[17]

Season-by-season averages
Year Team GP MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2015–16 Meralco 5130.6.480.288.7584.73.91.0.412.1
2016–17 Meralco 4835.1.450.291.7606.05.01.2.413.3
2017–18 Meralco 4134.7.427.429.8465.55.0.9.313.9
2019 Meralco 4535.8.441.283.8135.83.81.1.314.6
2020 Meralco 1836.3.421.250.7675.74.91.4.413.9
Career 20334.2.447.314.7895.54.41.1.313.5

References
  1. Mendoza-Dayrit, Mylene (August 6, 2013). "How Chris Newsome stays fit and awesome". The Philippine Star. Retrieved August 24, 2015.
  2. "Clovis defeats Rio Rancho 38-8". Clovis News Journal. September 28, 2007. Retrieved August 24, 2015.
  3. "2007 First Community Bank State Basketball Championships" (PDF). New Mexico Activities Association. Retrieved August 24, 2015.
  4. "Chris Newsome - Waiting To Exhale". AthleticsInMotion.Blogspot.com. February 7, 2013. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
  5. "New Mexico Highlands University Cowboy and Cowgirl Athletics - Chris Newsome - 2010-2011 Men's Basketball". Retrieved August 23, 2015.
  6. Yodice, James (April 25, 2011). "Philippines Beckons Ex-Ram". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
  7. Herron, Gary (April 24, 2011). "Newsome to play hoops in Philippines". Rio Rancho Observer. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
  8. Terrado, Reuben (February 14, 2013). "Perasol expects Fil-Am guard Newsome to play big role in Ateneo's six-peat bid". Spin.ph. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
  9. "Former Ram Newsome flyin' in the Philippines". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
  10. Ganglani, Naveen (October 4, 2014). "Ateneo's Chris Newsome went down swinging". Rappler. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
  11. Terrado, Reuben. "Hapee Toothpaste set to add NU's Troy Rosario to powerhouse D-League lineup October 9, 2014". SPIN.ph. Retrieved August 24, 2015.
  12. Ganglani, Naveen (February 19, 2015). "Hapee bags D-League title behind Thompson's heroics". Rappler. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
  13. "Full Results: 2015 PBA Rookie Draft". GMA Network. August 23, 2015. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
  14. Sacamos, Karlo. "Rookie Chris Newsome signs three-year deal with Meralco Bolts". Spin.ph. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  15. Sacamos, Karlo (October 28, 2015). "San Miguel takes win No. 2, spoils impressive debut of Meralco's Chris Newsome". Spin.ph. Retrieved October 30, 2015.
  16. "Chris Newsome named PBA Rookie of the Year 2016". PinoyBoxBreak. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  17. Real GM
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