Chris Newsome was remorseful as he came out of Meralco’s locker room at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum Friday night. No one cannot blame him though, as his side lost to TNT in Game Three of their quarterfinal series.
Friday night’s defeat could not be more bitter to fathom for the Bolts and for the sophomore two-guard. Aside from losing in overtime, the setback also marked the end of the Orangemen’s run in the 2017 Commissioner’s Cup.
And in the unfortunate event, Newsome was the one scrutinized the most.
With 7.1 seconds left in regulation, and with Meralco ahead by a point, 89-88, Newsome was tasked to dish the ball off an inbound. TNT’s defense though covered all his teammates well, making it difficult for him to pass.
Left with no options, the 26-year-old tried to earn a kicked ball violation from TNT import Joshua Smith, who was right in front of him trying to disrupt his inbound pass. But unfortunately for him, it was one grave mistake.
Instead of bouncing into Smith’s shin, the ball slipped to the floor, and the import was quick to grab the loose ball and handed it off to Jayson Castro. The star guard was then fouled, and split his charities that sent the game to OT.
It clearly affected the Bolts in the extra period as the Katropa went ablaze right from the start and went on to win, 104-96, and advance to the semifinals.
“It was a turnover. They got the ball, we fouled, [they] made a free throw and tied the ballgame. And in overtime we relaxed. That’s how it affected us,” reflected Newsome about the heartbreaking loss his team absorbed.
But with regards to his pivotal error — not to mention the way he played in OT where he fouled out — that led to the loss, the Ateneo alumnus pointed out that it was all about the breaks of the game, which did not favor them.
“I believe I let my team down? I wouldn’t say I let them down. It’s just a bad decision — just one of those bad breaks of the game,” said Newsome, who only had seven points — down from his 13.73 points average for the conference. “I tried to hit it on his foot, and hoped it go out of bounds, but it rolled back in. Probably its’ just one of those breaks, and you can’t control that.
“I felt like everybody understands that it was breaks of the game. If anybody wants to blame me for it, then, sure. Of course I know I’m responsible for what happened or at least for the things that I can control. Everything else I can’t control.”
But as much as the Fil-American is disappointed, Meralco head coach Norman Black defended him, saying that the costly turnover made by the San Jose, California native will only help him grow as a player.
“It happens,” said the 59-year-old mentor. “I mean, you don’t want that to happen in that situation… He tried to hit it in the legs of Joshua Smith which led to the turnover, and then we fouled. So a couple of bad plays in the end.
“But Chris Newsome is in his fifth conference in the league, so he’ll learn from the experience.”
