Bolts go easy on Newsome

Meralco is taking a cautious approach with lead guard Chris Newsome after the flashy guard hurt his left knee in Game 3 of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 50 Philippine Cup semifinals against TNT.

Newsome escaped a major injury based on his MRI results but the Bolts, who are trailing in the bestof-seven series, are not taking any chances and ruled him as day-to-day.

The Gilas Pilipinas standout was present for Game 4 as Meralco aimed to equalize on Sunday night at the Mall of Asia Arena.

“We’ll see,” a smiling Newsome said when asked by DAILY TRIBUNE if he’ll suit up after arriving during the halftime of the opening game between defending champion San Miguel Beer and Barangay Ginebra.

He, however, walked with a slight limp.

Newsome averaged 16.0 points and 4.3 assists per game in the series’ first three outings.

The 35-year-old Filipino-American sustained his injury with 2:01 left in the final canto of the Bolts’ 97-89 win last Friday that stopped a two-game bleeding.

Newsome got hurt af ter teammate Chris Banchero landed on his leg while trying to defend Rey Nambatac.

The 2024 Philippine Cup Finals Most Valuable Player left the game for good after finishing with 17 points, five assists, four rebounds and a steal in over 40 minutes of play.