Chris Newsome facts for kids
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Newsome in 2023
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| No. 11 – Meralco Bolts | |
|---|---|
| Guard / small forward | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | July 25, 1990 San Jose, California, U.S. |
| Nationality | Filipino / American |
| High school | Rio Rancho (Rio Rancho, New Mexico) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Listed weight | 190 lb (86 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College |
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| PBA Draft | 2015 Round: 1 / Pick: 4th overall |
| Selected by the Meralco Bolts | |
| Pro career | 2015–present |
| League | PBA |
| Career history | |
| 2015–present | Meralco Bolts |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Christopher Elijah Duque Newsome (born July 25, 1990) is a Filipino-American professional basketball player. He plays for the Meralco Bolts in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He is known for his exciting plays and strong defense.
Contents
Early Life and First Steps in Sports
Chris Newsome was born in San Jose, California. His mother, Carmelita, is Filipina, and his father, Eric, is African American. He has an older brother and two younger sisters. When his family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, Chris went to Rio Rancho High School.
Discovering Basketball
Chris first played baseball and football. He did not start playing basketball until he was in seventh grade. He quickly became good at it. In 2007, he helped his high school team, the Rio Rancho HS Rams, win the 5A State Championship.
College and Amateur Basketball Journey
After high school, Newsome played basketball at New Mexico Highlands University. This is an NCAA Division II school. He played there for three years. In his last year, 2011, he scored about 10 points and grabbed 4 rebounds per game.
Moving to the Philippines
Later, the coach of the Ateneo Blue Eagles, Norman Black, asked him to play for their team. He also wanted Chris to join the Philippine national team for the Southeast Asian Games. Chris said yes to this exciting offer. He had to live in the Philippines for two years before he could play for Ateneo. This was a rule for foreign students in the UAAP league.
Playing for Ateneo
Chris finally played for Ateneo in 2013. In his final season with the Blue Eagles in 2014, he averaged 14 points and 8 rebounds per game. He was even chosen for the UAAP Season 77 Mythical 5 team, which means he was one of the top five players in the league.
Winning in the D-League
Before joining the PBA, Newsome played for the Hapee Fresh Fighters in the PBA D-League. He played with other future stars like Troy Rosario and Scottie Thompson. Together, they helped the Fresh Fighters win their first PBA D-League championship in 2015.
Professional Career with Meralco Bolts
In the 2015 PBA draft, Chris Newsome was picked fourth overall by the Meralco Bolts. This meant he got to play again for his former college coach, Norman Black. Soon after, he signed a three-year contract with the Bolts.
Rising Star and Rookie Year
Chris made his PBA debut on October 28, 2015. He scored 14 points and even had an amazing slam dunk over a famous player. He quickly became a key player for the Meralco Bolts. He even competed in the Slam Dunk Contest during the 2016 PBA All-Star Weekend.
Newsome was named the PBA Rookie of the Year in 2016. This award goes to the best new player in the league. He helped Meralco reach the Finals of the 2016 PBA Governors' Cup, but they lost to the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.
Continued Success and Awards
In the 2016–17 season, Newsome scored a career-high 28 points in one game. He also won his first Slam Dunk title in 2017. He helped the Bolts reach the playoffs multiple times. In 2019, he achieved his first triple-double, which means he had double-digit numbers in points, rebounds, and assists in one game.
Newsome has continued to be a top player for the Meralco Bolts. He has won many awards, including:
- PBA champion (2024 Philippine Cup)
- PBA Finals MVP (2024 Philippine Cup)
- 2-time PBA All-Star (2023, 2024)
- PBA First Mythical Team (2023)
- 2-time PBA All-Defensive Team (2022, 2023)
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Playing for the National Team
For a long time, Chris Newsome could not play for the Philippines in most international basketball tournaments. This was because of a rule that said players needed to get their passports before they turned 16.
Gold Medals for the Philippines
However, he was able to play for the Philippines in the 3x3 basketball tournament at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. With his teammates, he helped the Philippines win a gold medal, winning every game they played!
In 2022, a special rule allowed Newsome to play for the Philippines as a local player. This was because he had lived in the Philippines for over 10 years. He played for the national team in the 2023 FIBA World Cup qualifiers.
Newsome was part of the team that won the gold medal at the 2022 Asian Games. This was a huge win for the Philippines, as it was their first Asian Games basketball gold medal in 61 years!
Career Statistics
Chris Newsome's performance in college and the PBA:
College
Elimination rounds
| Year | Team | GP | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-14 | Ateneo | 14 | 30.1 | .512 | .235 | .762 | 8.3 | 2.6 | .6 | .5 | 13.1 |
| 2014-15 | 14 | 30.4 | .436 | .462 | .744 | 7.9 | 2.6 | 1.3 | .9 | 13.5 | |
| Career | 28 | 30.3 | .473 | .372 | .752 | 8.3 | 2.6 | .9 | .7 | 13.3 | |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-15 | Ateneo | 2 | 33.3 | .636 | 1.000 | .857 | 6.5 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 18.0 |
| Career | 2 | 33.3 | .636 | 1.000 | .857 | 6.5 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 18.0 | |
PBA
As of the end of 2023–24 season
| Year | Team | GP | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015–16 | Meralco | 51 | 30.6 | .480 | .288 | .758 | 4.7 | 3.9 | 1.0 | .4 | 12.1 |
| 2016–17 | Meralco | 48 | 35.1 | .450 | .291 | .760 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 1.2 | .4 | 13.3 |
| 2017–18 | Meralco | 41 | 34.7 | .427 | .429 | .846 | 5.5 | 5.0 | .9 | .3 | 13.9 |
| 2019 | Meralco | 45 | 35.8 | .441 | .283 | .813 | 5.8 | 3.8 | 1.1 | .3 | 14.6 |
| 2020 | Meralco | 18 | 36.3 | .421 | .250 | .767 | 5.7 | 4.9 | 1.4 | .4 | 13.9 |
| 2021 | Meralco | 40 | 34.8 | .408 | .320 | .797 | 5.2 | 5.0 | 1.2 | .4 | 13.0 |
| 2022 | Meralco | 38 | 35.3 | .432 | .373 | .748 | 5.2 | 4.8 | 1.0 | .1 | 14.9 |
| 2023 | Meralco | 39 | 35.5 | .397 | .289 | .862 | 5.5 | 4.4 | .9 | .3 | 16.2 |
| Career | 320 | 34.5 | .433 | .319 | .797 | 5.4 | 4.5 | 1.1 | .3 | 13.9 | |
Off the Court
Chris Newsome is not just a basketball player. He also writes columns for the Philippine version of NBA.com. He is also a photographer for the Meralco Bolts' social media pages. In 2018, he became a brand ambassador for TAG Heuer, a famous watch company.
