Chris Newsome excited to play alongside Terrence Romeo at Gilas

Tim Cone (second from left) gives out pointers to (from left) Chris Newsome, Calvin Oftana, Calvin Abueva and Terrence Romeo while the women’s team trains in the background. —MARLO CUETO.

MANILA, Philippines—Chris Newsome will share the floor with fellow guard Terrence Romeo for Gilas Pilipinas in the upcoming 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.

With both playmakers making their returns in the national team’s lineup, Newsome said he’s excited to play alongside his fellow UAAP alumni in Romeo in the national team.

“Me and T go way back to UAAP days, that’s when our first battles started. Ever since then we’ve had a lot of respect for one another’s game because we love to compete,” the Meralco Bolts star said at Philsports Arena on Friday.

“He’s one of the toughest competitors that the Philippines has to offer. It’s hard to keep that man down.”

Newsome, who played for Ateneo, and Romeo, who played for Far Eastern University, had plenty of battles during their college days.

Both were unable to win a championship for their respective alma maters but their flashy plays earned them spots in the league’s Mythical Five.

Newsome was a member of the 2014 mythical team. Romeo, meanwhile, had a more colorful college career, winning mythical honors in 2012 and 2013, the Rookie of the Year award in 2013 and the Most Valuable Player award in 2013.

Both cagers went on to make names for themselves in the PBA. Fast forward, Newsome is just glad to see Romeo flourishing despite career-threatening injuries in the past.

“I’m happy to see him back on the court, healthy and a hundred percent. It’s going to be fun to go to battle with people who are just as competitive as you,” Newsome said. “We got each other in practice just like we did back in the UAAP.”

Joining Romeo and Newsome in the backcourt are Fiba World Cup holdovers Roger Pogoy and Scottie Thompson.