UNRESTRICTED free agency won’t be a thing for Chris Newsome.
Not yet anyway.
Although a member of the 2015 PBA draft class that's turning UFA under the nine-year rule, the hero of Meralco’s first-ever PBA championship still has an existing contract with the Bolts that runs up until April of 2025.
READ CJ Perez tips hat to Chris Newsome's leadership qualities
Meralco team manager Paolo Trillo confirmed Newsome’s current deal shortly after the Bolts wrapped up their best-of-seven title series against the San Miguel Beermen, 80-78, to win the Philippine Cup.
“So that’s a good nine or 10 months from now. He’s under contract with us until next year,” said Trillo.
Coming to the just concluded Season 48, all eyes were on the 33-year-old Newsome as a possible UFA especially after winning back-to-back gold medals with Gilas Pilipinas in the Cambodia Southeast Asian Games and the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
At the same time, the Fil-Am guard was still in search of his first-ever PBA championship in nine seasons with Meralco and which wouldn’t come until Sunday night when the team pulled off one of the most improbable title runs in the league's 48-year history.
Over the last few weeks as Newsome's stock grew in the middle of the Bolts' run through the playoffs, there was growing talk on social media that the uber-athletics guard is bound for a San Miguel Corp. team once he turns unrestricted free agent.
But Charlie Dy of VP Global Management, which represents the combo guard out of Ateneo, said no teamsoutside of Meralco has approached them or expressed interest in getting the services of Newsome.
“Wala naman ganung talks or offer," said Dy.
Trillo admitted there were already initial talks with Newsome's camp about a possible contract renewal, but said these had to be set aside the past few weeks as Meralco made a run to a maiden PBA title.
“We’ve began talking about it, but dumating nga 'yung playoffs and finals so we don’t want that to be a distraction to New,” said the Meralco executive.
But following the championship success achieved by the Bolts, Trillo is certain about where Newsome’s heart is as far as playing in the league is concerned.
“It (championship) would definitely help a lot in his future decision,” Trillo added.
Dy confirmed that he has started negotiations with Trillo and that in his view, Newsome is happy where he is now.
"He's very happy with Meralco," Dy said.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
