Chris Newsome facts for kids
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Newsome in 2023
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| No. 11 – Meralco Bolts | |
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| 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). Chris is known for his exciting plays and has won many awards. He helped his team win the PBA championship in 2024.
Contents
Chris Newsome's Early Life
Chris Newsome was born in San Jose, California. His mother, Carmelita, is Filipina, and his father, Eric, is African American. Chris has an older brother and two younger sisters. His family later moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico.
High School Sports
Chris went to Rio Rancho High School. When he was younger, he played baseball and football. He didn't start playing basketball until he was in seventh grade. In 2007, he helped his high school team, the Rio Rancho HS Rams, win the 5A State Championship.
College Basketball Journey
Chris first attended New Mexico Highlands University. This is an NCAA Division II school. He played for the Cowboys for three years.
Playing for Ateneo
In 2011, Chris was asked by coach Norman Black to play for the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the Philippines. He accepted the offer. He had to wait two years before playing due to league rules for foreign students. He finally played for Ateneo in 2013. In his last season, he was one of the top players. He averaged 14 points and 8 rebounds per game. He also earned a spot on the UAAP Mythical 5 team.
Amateur Basketball Career
Before turning professional, Chris played for the Hapee Fresh Fighters. This was in the PBA D-League. He played with other talented college players. Together, they helped the Fresh Fighters win their first PBA D-League title in 2015.
Professional Basketball Career
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Chris Newsome was picked fourth overall in the 2015 PBA draft. He joined the Meralco Bolts, which meant he got to play for his former college coach, Norman Black, again. A few days after the draft, he signed a three-year contract with the team.
Rookie Season Highlights
In his first PBA game in October 2015, Chris scored 14 points. He even had an amazing slam dunk over another player. He quickly became a star player. He was named the PBA Rookie of the Year in 2016.
PBA Finals Appearances
Chris became a very important player for the Meralco Bolts. He helped them reach the PBA Finals multiple times. They made it to the Finals in 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2021. In these games, they often played against the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.
Slam Dunk Champion and Triple-Double
In 2017, Chris won his first PBA Slam Dunk Contest title. He showed off his amazing athletic skills. In 2019, he achieved his first triple-double. This means he had double-digit numbers in three different stats: points, rebounds, and assists.
Winning the PBA Championship
In 2020, Chris made a game-winning shot at the buzzer against the Terrafirma Dyip. This was a very exciting moment! In 2024, Chris Newsome led the Meralco Bolts to win the PBA Philippine Cup. This was a huge achievement for him and his team. He was also named the PBA Finals MVP for his outstanding performance in the championship series.
Playing for the National Team
For a long time, Chris Newsome couldn't play in most international basketball tournaments for the Philippines. This was because of a rule about when players got their passports.
SEA Games Gold Medals
However, he was able to play for the Philippines in the 2019 SEA Games 3x3 tournament. The rules were different for this event. Chris and his teammates won the gold medal, winning every game they played. He also won a gold medal at the 2023 Southeast Asian Games in the 5-on-5 men's tournament.
FIBA Clearance and Asian Games
In 2022, FIBA, the international basketball federation, allowed Chris to play as a local player for the Philippines. 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. In 2023, he played in the 2022 Asian Games. He helped the Philippines win its first Asian Games gold medal in basketball in 61 years! He scored 13 points in the gold medal game.
Off the Court Activities
Chris Newsome also writes columns for the Philippine edition 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.
Images for kids
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Newsome in 2023
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Newsome with the Meralco Bolts in 2016
