CHRIS Newsome is playing non-stop basketball for two weeks now that has taken him to three different countries while playing in three different tournaments.
It’s certainly an exhausting experience, but whining isn't in the Meralco guard’s vocabulary.
Although admitting that fatigue has set in, the 34-year-old Newsome isn’t about to yield in the face of adversity.
Not now when Gilas Pilipinas faces its toughest test again before the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers come to a close.
“You can definitely feel the fatigue a bit, but it’s still no excuse. I still expect myself to perform and I know some of the other guys as well. I know they expect to perform well as well regardless of the situation,” said Newsome in a One Sports interview as the national team prepares for its game against New Zealand on Sunday morning.
READ: NZ Tall Blacks say all or nothing in home game against Gilas
Of the 13 Gilas players, it’s Newsome who hasn’t had the benefit of a rest.
Shortly after the Bolts’ do-or-die game against Barangay Ginebra for a spot in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals, Newsome flew with the Meralco squad to Chinese Taipei where it played the New Taipei Kings for the last berth in the East Asian Super League (EASL) Final Four.
Then from Taipei, he connected with Gilas in Qatar where it played the home team, Lebanon, and Egypt in a three-game friendly as part of its preparation for the FIBA Asia Cup tournament.
Upon returning to Manila last Monday, Newsome and the rest of Gilas departed for Taiwan the following day for its Friday game against the Chinese Taipei in its final two outings in the Asia Cup qualifiers.
Then from Taipei, the Filipinos proceeded to Auckland for the final game of the qualifiers’ third window.
Newsome said it’s an experience Gilas players should become accustomed, given the constant travels that goes with the year-long FIBA cycle.
“Going to different countries, different time zones. But like I said before, it’s all about being a professional and that’s what professional basketball players are supposed to do, be able to play regardless of when and where,” he stressed.
Newsome also had to play extended minutes in the Chinese Taipei game, playing almost the entire fourth period when Gilas rallied from a 10-point deficit, only to fall short of its comeback in the endgame.
The Fil-Am guard out of Ateneo finished with seven points in Gilas’ first defeat in the qualifiers.
“It’s something we’re still getting used to, and I think we’re going to improve the system of travelling and playing on the road a lot more with more experience that comes,” said Newsome.
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