Chris Newsome did not hide his glee after achieving a rare triple-double on Sunday evening.
The four-year pro tallied 13 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists to play a major role in the Meralco Bolts’ 111-94 romp of the Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters in the 2019 PBA Governors’ Cup.
‘I think that’s my first career triple-double in the PBA. I got pretty close a few times, but it’s nice to finally get [it],” he said.
Still, Newsome gave credit to his fellow Orangemen for making the statistical feat possible.
“The triple-double comes down to not only just me, but also my teammates,” said the Ateneo product.
“Definitely want to give a lot of credit to my teammates for knocking down shots.”
Offense was indeed the major key for Meralco in the victory. They shot 48.2-percent from the field, mainly thanks to their fluid ball movement — as shown by their 26 assists.
A total of five Bolts finished in double figures, led by import Allen Durham’s 27 points. Baser Amer followed with 26, then Raymond Almazan and Bong Quinto had 14 markers each.
For the 29-year-old Newsome, Meralco will be tougher to contain if they continue playing that way.
“We become less predictable.
“I’m not sure how many people we had in double figures tonight, but any time we can get four or five players in double figures, it’s hard to predict who to guard,” he said.
And if they really want to make it back to Finals, Newsome said that they should replicate these plays every given time.
“That’s what we’re going to have to do,” said Meralco’s fourth overall pick in 2015.
“To keep replicating that formula if we want to be successful and try to make it back to the Finals.”
