Game 6 hero now looks at next career move

On: By: admin


Meralco Bolts’ Chris Newsome celebrates after leading his team to the PBA Philippine Cup championship.-MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Chris Newsome is aware that an old trophy from Meralco’s gloried past used to be on display somewhere in the company sports complex in Ortigas where the Bolts regularly hold their practices.

He had hoped to see the 1971 MICAA Open title sitting alongside the Jun Bernardino Perpetual Trophy, which the Bolts were awarded for being the PBA Philippine Cup champion after they defeated San Miguel, 4-2, in the best-of-seven series after an 80-78 win on Sunday night where Newsome hit the winning basket at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Newsome has done his part, finally helping the franchise to its first PBA title. And Meralco will now have to do its part with Newsome entering unrestricted free agency.

“Whenever this Finals is done, we have time to reevaluate the situation,” Newsome had told the Inquirer before the series began. “Of course, the result of this Finals could play a lot into negotiations when it comes to free agency.”

How the favorable result was arrived at will surely come into play after Newsome drained a fallaway jumper with 1.3 seconds left that saved the Bolts from an implosion that saw them blow a 17-point lead in the first half.

With Newsome being part of the 2015 Draft class that will be eligible for unrestricted free agency, Meralco effectively loses its rights on the 33-year-old swingman.

This will be the second off-season that such players have been accorded the huge privilege. It started last year when those who entered in 2014 took advantage of the rule implemented three years ago which players like Chris Banchero, Barangay Ginebra’s Nards Pinto and Maverick Ahanmisi took advantage of.

Newsome, though, has not played for any other team than Meralco, a big plus when he considers his next career move.

Banchero left Phoenix in 2022 to sign with Meralco, Pinto opted to join Barangay Ginebra after several years with Meralco while Ahanmisi switched from Converge before the start of this season. INQ



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.

After very long wait, Bolts now belong in company of PBA immortals

On: By: admin


Chris Newsome –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

At long last, the Meralco Bolts, perhaps the team with the most number of heartbreaks in terms of chasing a PBA championship, were able to write a happy ending to this story.

And it took one of the longest-tenured players in franchise history to deliver the winning shot that announced Meralco’s coming—after a 14-year wait—as a league immortal.

“There was a time that we really got discouraged because we kept failing and failing,” said Chris Newsome, whose baseline shot with a second left sealed the 80-78 victory and a 4-2 best-of-series win, that gave the Bolts the Philippine Cup, the most prestigious prize in the big league.

A missed three-pointer from June Mar Fajardo, who earlier tied the count at 78 with three seconds left with a desperate triple, sealed the upset as the Beermen failed to prevent the Bolts from finally completing their long chase of a crown.

But Newsome, who in his first of four previous Finals appearances in the 2016 Governors’ Cup didn’t convert a potential winning shot in Game 5, came through when it mattered, his promise to bring a title to the Meralco headquarters in Ortigas finally fulfilled.

“That’s a sign that if you work harder, you keep improving yourself and keep believing in yourself, good things will happen,” added Newsome, who before the season savored the taste of winning as part of Gilas Pilipinas’ run to the gold medal in the Hangzhou Asian Games.

Meralco not only won the PBA title for the first time, it also ended a 53-year search for a trophy in big-time basketball which it last tasted when Robert Jaworski led the Reddy Kilowatts to glory in the 1971 MICAA Open.

That league is long gone, and the championship trophy hasn’t been seen since the canteen at the Meralco gym was closed. Now, it can add the Jun Bernardino Trophy to its collection.

To say that the Bolts won it unexpectedly is fair. At one point, the team handled by coach Luigi Trillo and active consultant Nenad Vucinic was staring at an early vacation when a stunning loss to winless Converge dropped to 3-5 in the eliminations.

But Meralco persevered, snatching the third seed in the playoffs after denying San Miguel an elimination round sweep in Batangas City, before surviving old nemesis Barangay Ginebra in a semifinal that went the full seven games.

“That was the goal, to just overcome [Ginebra] and we were able to do that,” said Newsome. “I think that allowed us to gain that confidence to come out and give it a good run. We peaked at the right time.”

Newsome and Cliff Hodge, another Meralco lifer, played with a spirit never seen in the past. Allein Maliksi used negative press to fuel himself to vital performances in the last two games of the Finals, while Raymond Almazan, Bong Quinto, Brandon Bates, Anjo Caram and many others delivered.



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.

Tears of joy were all over the court when the final buzzer sounded as the Bolts finally reached the mountain top. INQ

Irving ends skid vs Celtics, Mavs try again in Boston

On: By: admin


Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving, center, drives to the basket against the Boston Celtics during the first half in Game 4 of the NBA basketball finals, Friday, June 14, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

DALLAS — Kyrie Irving’s personal 13-game losing streak against the Celtics is over.

Now it’s back to the parquet floor in Boston to face his former team again, the Dallas Mavericks still alive in the NBA Finals after avoiding a sweep with a 122-84 blowout in Game 4 on Friday night.

The first two road games in this series weren’t Irving’s best, the two in Dallas quite a bit better despite a Game 3 loss that left the Mavs with a deficit no NBA team has overcome to win a playoff series.

Combine that with much more of an impact from the role players around Irving and co-star Luka Doncic, and maybe the constant booing of Irving from the jilted fans in Boston won’t ring quite as loudly in Game 5 on Monday night.

Plenty of green-clad Celtics fans were planning a celebration in Texas, but the loud cheers early when the game was close didn’t last long.

READ: NBA Finals: Kyrie Irving says Mavericks change ‘starts with me’

“You saw all those Celtics fans in there tonight. They travel in packs,” said Irving, who spent two seasons in Boston. “When we go to Boston, there’s going to be a bunch of them yelling a whole bunch of crazy stuff still, but I think we’ve been able to grow and face kind of this adversity head on.

“We’re figuring out each other in a crazy way during the highest stage of basketball,” Irving said. “So it’s a beautiful thing, but it also can be chaotic if you don’t know how to stay poised through it.”

If the Mavericks are to become just the 12th of 157 teams to force a Game 6 after falling behind 3-0 — and get the title series back to Dallas — the supporting cast for Irving and Doncic will have to keep it up.

Dereck Lively II connected on a 3-pointer for the first time in his career — exactly seven months after the the second of the two regular-season attempts from beyond the arc by the 7-foot-1 rookie center.

At one point in the second half, Lively had 12 rebounds, his final total, to 16 for Boston. No wonder Dallas outscored the Celtics 60-26 in the paint, where Lively scored the other eight of his 11 points.

READ: Kyrie Irving channeling 2016 as Mavericks plot NBA Finals rally

Dante Exum hit two 3s and had another taken away when replay revealed he had stepped out of bounds. The buckets from deep were coming from so many Dallas players — 14 of 23, although those numbers were skewed a bit by the blowout — it didn’t matter that Doncic and Irving combined to go 1 of 14.

“It’s five people on the floor,” Doncic said. “So that’s huge for us. Everybody played with a lot of energy. That’s how we got to do it. We got to think the same way in Game 5 in Boston.”

Doncic scored 25 of his 29 points in the first half, while Irving had 10 of his 21 in the third quarter to help push a 26-point halftime lead to 38 before all starters were out of the game for good late in the third.

Lively’s games in the finals have somewhat mirrored those of Irving, his fellow Duke alum. The 20-year-old was mostly quiet in Boston. The two games in Dallas put him in the company of Magic Johnson as the only rookies with consecutive double-doubles in the NBA Finals.

He replaced starter Daniel Gafford earlier than in any of the previous finals games, and coach Jason Kidd said Lively just happened to be in the right spot — the right corner — when he hit the 3 to put Dallas ahead for good about three minutes later.

It’s unlikely Lively will start at this point — something he did early in his rookie season — but the crowd probably will notice when he heads to the scorer’s table for the first time back in Boston.

“If they leave me open in the corner, I’m going to get them up, for sure,” Lively said. “It’s just having that trust. Luka is going to give me the ball. As soon as I shot it, he kind of jumped for joy when it went in.”



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.

Irving is still trying to find some joy in Boston, and he gets another chance this season.

Charles Barkley says next season will be his last on TV

On: By: admin


FILE – Charles Barkley arrives at the NBA Awards on June 24, 2019, at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)

Charles Barkley said Friday that next season will be his last on TV, no matter what happens with the NBA’s media deals.

The Hall of Fame player has spent the last 24 years working as a studio analyst for TNT, which could lose the rights to broadcast NBA after next season.

But no matter where the games end up, Barkley won’t be following.

READ: Charles Barkley sticking with Turner, ends LIV talks

“There’s been a lot of noise around our network the last few months and I just want to say I’ve talked to all the other networks, but I ain’t going nowhere other than TNT,” Barkley said while working on NBA TV’s NBA Finals postgame show.

The NBA’s current deals with ABC-ESPN and Turner Sports expire after next season and the league has been talking with NBC, ESPN and Amazon, among other networks and platforms, about what comes next.

Commissioner Adam Silver said last week he hopes new long-term deals will be completed shortly.

READ: 76ers unveil statue honoring Charles Barkley

Barkley and broadcast teammates Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith have discussed their uncertain future on their popular “Inside the NBA” studio show.

Barkley would seemingly draw interest from any network televising NBA, but the 61-year-old has decided that 25 years will be enough and he will “pass the baton,” hopefully, to a TNT teammate such as Vince Carter or Jamal Crawford.

“But I have made the decision myself no matter what happens, next year is going to be my last year on television,” he said.



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.

Alas coach De Brito relishes ‘amazing journey’ being girl dad

On: By: admin


Alas Pilipinas coach Jorge Souza De Brito during the AVC Challenge Cup 2024. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Jorge Souza De Brito may have made a name for himself as a seasoned volleyball coach currently calling the shots for Alas Pilipinas but he will always be a girl dad.

The Brazilian tactician, who has been handling the Philippine women’s volleyball program since 2021 through the FIVB development project platform, has traveled the world to coach for different squads in a couple of countries like Japan, Turkey, and South Korea before finding his second home in Manila.

And it wasn’t easy, especially when he was away from his family as De Brito had to fulfill his duties as volleyball mentor.

READ: De Brito happy to deliver Alas Pilipinas medal at home

“There’s a prayer I always do when there are some flights or I’ll be away. That if something happens, let God take care of them. Because it’s hard. And the worst part is always there with the mom. So the mom has to—it’s the mom and dad. And I just ask for God to protect me to be back or protect them to be safe,” De Brito told reporters.

The 57-year-old De Brito, who recently got his contract extended until the Southeast Asian Games next year after a historic bronze medal in the AVC Challenge Cup, is grateful to receive a second chance to stay in Manila, which is also considered the second home of his wife Raquele Lenartowicz and daughters Julia, Anna Muiza, and Helena.

His family felt at home, especially his daughters, who have been studying in the country.

For De Brito, being a father is the best part of life as it also makes him a better coach and man.

“For me, it’s like having your heart outside your chest. It’s amazing because, you know—when you’re not a father, you don’t know exactly what it means. You can imagine, but you don’t know. It’s a part of you just walking around, growing. It’s amazing because they want your protection and care,” said De Brito, who was emotional during an intimate interview with reporters. 

READ: De Brito relishes PH coaching stint despite ‘a lot of challenges’

“But suddenly, they start to grow, they start to make their own steps. You start to be so proud of it, but also you’d be afraid because the world is not perfect, and it’s always dangerous. But it’s an amazing journey being a dad. It’s something that will make us alive every single day.”

“Of course, you never sleep, a hundred percent, because, you’ll always have to [think]: ‘What happened? What are they going to do in the future? What are they thinking about? What can I do to make things comfortable, not too much for them not to fight, but enough to not be afraid of all the things they have to face in the future. It’s the best part of life,” added De Brito also the father of Marina from his previous marriage.

All De Brito wants for his daughters is to become genuine and loving people.

“No matter where I’ll be or if I leave, I hope that they can be good, they can be honest, they can find a way, and try to be kind and find happiness in everything they do. They’ll make me happy if they just keep on doing this. Spreading love.”

The former Brazilian Olympic medalist as a player has brought his father figure in coaching, which also helped the Alas players to be closer.

This Father’s Day, De Brito wishes all dads a good and happy life.



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.

“I’m a father, too. I know how hard it is. I know there’s a part that we always do, and that’s work a lot to provide them everything they need. But I want to share with you guys that all they need is our love,” De Brito said. “I wish you happiness and a lot of love and use all the moments that you have to spend with them. Because more than everything you can give them, all they need is our time. I wish you have a long time with them and enjoy this special moment with the kids. So, it’s so good because even if they grow, they’ll still be our kids. Happy Father’s Day.”

Meralco wins first PBA title, survives San Miguel in Game 6

On: By: admin


Meralco Bolts celebrate after winning their first-ever PBA title.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–Call them the “Miracle Bolts.”

Against a battle-tested enemy so used to playing on a pressured-packed stage, the Bolts on Sunday stunned San Miguel, 80-78, to rule the PBA Philippine Cup.

Chris Newsome hit a fadeaway jumper with 1.3 remaining to cap Meralco’s stand at Smart Araneta Coliseum, finishing off the much-fancied defending champions in six tightly contested games.

READ: PBA Finals: ‘Nobody remembers second place,’ says Meralco coach Trillo

Allein Maliksi was just as big in the clincher, delivering 14 points to backstop Newsome’s 15 which also helped the club to its first-ever title in Asia’s pioneering pro league.

Bong Quinto had 11 points, Chris Banchero 10, Raymond Almazan nine while Cliff Hodge, Anjo Caram, and Norbert Torres pumped in six points each.

June Mar Fajardo, earlier crowned the Best Player of the Conference, tied the game at 78-all with 3.3 ticks remaining, almost willing the Beermen back and dragging the Bolts to a deciding Game 7. He finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds.

READ: PBA Finals: Unable to stop June Mar, Meralco still finds way to win

CJ Perez tossed in 14 points, Marcio Lassiter 11, Mo Tautuaa 10. Terrence Romeo added nine, Don Trollano seven, and Simon Enciso five off the bench.

Sunday’s triumph marks the first time Meralco was at the basketball mountaintop since ruling the Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association, a precursor of the PBA, in 1971.



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.

PBA Finals loss fuels CJ Perez to get better

On: By: admin


San Miguel Beer guard CJ Perez during Game 6 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—The hard work never stops for CJ Perez in the offseason especially after San Miguel Beer lost in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.

Even after coming off his best PBA season yet, Perez, the Best Player of the Conference in the 2024 Commissioner’s Cup, feels the need to further improve his game and help get the Beermen back to the top.

“Of course, I’ll continue to do what I’m doing and I’m not going to stop doing the things that help me get better. There will be struggles but every team goes through those things to improve so I’ll prepare for it,” said Perez in Filipino after their 80-78 defeat in Game 6 on Sunday.

READ: Meralco wins first PBA title, survives San Miguel in Game 6

“I still have a lot of weaknesses. I still need to learn a lot and I still have a lot to work on. We’ll see in the next conference.”

Perez had a tough outing in Game 6, finishing with 14 points, nine rebounds and four assists.

The finals series–apart from Game 2 where he erupted for 34 points–was a struggle for Perez offensively against Meralco’s defensive schemes.

Still, Perez lauded the Beermen squad for bringing the fight to the Bolts.

“I’m still proud of my teammates and coaches on how hard they worked.”



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.

Chris Newsome repays Meralco ‘faith’ with title-clinching shot

On: By: admin


Meralco Bolts’ Chris Newsome celebrates after leading his team to the PBA Philippine Cup championship.-MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Meralco couldn’t have hoped for any other player than Chris Newsome to hold the ball in the endgame of Game 6 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.

Newsome showed why after he nailed the game-clinching shot to deliver the Bolts’ first-ever PBA title on Sunday night.

“New has been in that situation a lot of times,” said Meralco coach Luigi Trillo, who won his second title as a PBA coach after claiming his first with Alaska in 2013, after the Bolts’ 80-78 escape in Game 6.

READ: Finals MVP Chris Newsome leads Meralco breakthrough PBA title win

“We have faith in him, he’s a special player in taking that fadeaway.”

Newsome’s clutch corner jumper came after June Mar Fajardo’s rare triple knotted the count at 78 with 3.3 seconds remaining.

Fajardo, who posted 21 points and 12 rebounds, tried to answer back but misfired on his 3-point try as time expired.

Newsome, who was hailed Finals MVP, finished with 15 points, five rebounds and four assists.

“You have to give it to San Miguel. We were up with some seconds left and they had no quit. I’m just very proud of New because he’s done that a lot of times.”



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.

Finals MVP Chris Newsome leads Meralco breakthrough PBA title

On: By: admin


PBA Finals MVP Chris Newsome delivers Meralco’s first-ever PBA championship.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–Chris Newsome finally entered hallowed basketball grounds on Sunday night, delivering Meralco’s first-ever PBA title at the expense of erstwhile defending champion San Miguel.

The two-way guard delivered the finishing blow of the 80-78 Game 6 victory at Smart Araneta Coliseum, capping off a stellar effort that eventually earned him the Honda-PBA Press Corps Finals Most Valuable Player.

Newsome had 15 points, five rebounds, four assists, two steals, and a block in the clincher.

READ: Meralco wins first PBA title, survives San Miguel in Game 6

Newsome also delivered the finishing blow—a fadeaway jumper over the outstretched arms of Don Trollano—with 1.3 ticks left on the clock.

The Ateneo product and Gilas Pilipinas mainstay racked up an average of 22.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.5 assists throughout the title series where many felt the Bolts were overwhelming underdogs.

Newsome finally added the most important feather to his cap. Before Sunday night, he had been a two-time All-Star, a member of the All-Defensive Team, and the 2016 Rookie of the Year, but never a PBA champion.



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.

Andy Murray named for fifth Olympics

On: By: admin


Britain’s Andy Murray gestures to the public after playing against Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka during their men’s singles match on day one of The French Open tennis tournament on Court Philippe-Chatrier at The Roland Garros Complex in Paris on May 26, 2024. (Photo by Alain JOCARD / AFP)

Andy Murray was on Sunday named as one of the four British singles players for the Paris Olympics, which will be his fifth Summer Games.

Murray, who has said he intends to retire later this year, was granted an ITF place to compete at the French Open at Roland Garros despite his lowly singles ranking of 97 due to being a former Grand Slam winner and Olympic gold medalist.

Team GB was also notified on Thursday that 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu would be in the mix for an ITF place, but she turned down the chance due to the multiple changes in surface over the coming weeks and after only recently returning from a lengthy injury lay-off.

READ: ‘Proud’ Andy Murray’s French Open career ended in first round

Murray, who won Olympic gold at London 2012 and Rio in 2016, is one of four male singles players selected alongside Jack Draper, Cameron Norrie and Dan Evans, with Katie Boulter the sole female participant for Britain.

Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski will represent Team GB in the men’s doubles and the pairing of Murray and Evans have been nominated for an additional space in that competition, which will be determined by the ITF – the governing body of world tennis who run the tournament – on June 25.



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.