When the going gets tough, expect Chris Newsome to be there to steer Meralco in the right direction.

The veteran guard has proven time and again that the Bolts can rely on him, especially in tough situations.

Newsome provided a steady presence as embattled defending Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup champions arrested a worrisome two-game skid with back-to-back wins and firmed their position inside the Magic 8 at 5-5.

Newsome’s stellar performance and major impact on his team earned him the PBA Press Corps-Pilipinas Live Player of the Week honors for the period 21 to 24 May.

The 6-foot-2 court general scored 19 points and added seven rebounds and three steals to lead the Meralco players in sharing the load to make up for the absence of suspended Cliff Hodge and posting a 103-85 romp over Blackwater.

Newsome followed this up with 21 points, five assists, and two steals, making the bulk in their second-half breakaway, as the Bolts stopped streaking NLEX on its tracks, 108-92.

The twin victories put Meralco in a safer zone in the race for the quarterfinal slots, opening a three-win advantage against ninth-running Phoenix (2-5) and creating momentum ahead of its elims closeout against old rival Barangay Ginebra on 30 May.

The newest member of the PBA’s 5,000-point scorer club, Newsome won the weekly citation for the first time in Season 49.