The Meralco Bolts snapped a two-game skid on Friday with a clinical 112-91 thrashing of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in front of a packed Labor Day crowd at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. But even with the big win, Meralco veteran Chris Newsome is keeping things in perspective, especially with the Bolts still chasing an all-important top-four finish in this PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Newsome Bares Important Goal
For Newsome, sealing a top-four finish is the interim goal at the moment, and the Bolts’ rout of Ginebra is just another game that pushed them closer to achieving said goal.
“That top four is very, really crucial whenever you’re trying to win a championship. Every advantage that you can have, you want to try to get that, and the top four is definitely a definite advantage,” Newsome told reporters after Meralco sealed its sixth win of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup. “For us, it’s just about staying focused and keeping our eyes on the goal that we’re trying to reach. With that said, this is just one game. We still got many more games to go.”
Next in line for the Bolts are the Blackwater Bossing on Sunday, the Terrafirma Dyip on May 8, and the Magnolia Hotshots on May 10.
Newsome Sees Ginebra Win as Confidence Boost
If the playoffs started today, Meralco would be the fourth seed and have a win-once edge. But the quarterfinals aren’t starting today, and Newsome knows fully well that a top-four seed isn’t locked up just yet. At least now, however, the veteran guard believes his Bolts have momentum going into their final stretch in the eliminations.
“We don’t have a top four seat locked up yet. It’s all still in the air, so there’s nothing really to celebrate for tonight other than the fact that we were able to break our two-game streak and get back on track,” Newsome said. “I think that confidence will allow us to use that momentum to move forward for the rest of the games…”
That final stretch begins on Sunday against the rejuvenated Bossing. And Newsome and the Bolts are already thinking about it.
