Chris Newsome feels Meralco needs to regain its old hunger. —EASL PHOTO
Chris Newsome and Meralco used Wednesday night as an opportunity to both open the East Asia Super League (EASL)campaign on a bright note and vent their frustrations on the disappointing quarterfinal exit to old rival Barangay Ginebra in the PBA Governors’ Cup.
“That series against Ginebra was definitely a reality check again and [it] brought us back to earth again,” Newsome said after the Bolts defeated the Macau Black Bears, 97-85, at Mall of Asia Arena.
The win, fashioned out on home soil, came 48 hours after Meralco got swept by Ginebra in the quarterfinals despite having chances to get a win in all three games of their latest playoff showdown.
Meralco’s elimination came three months after capturing last season’s Philippine Cup title, a run that put an end to the franchise’s long search to reach the PBA mountaintop. The defeat to Ginebra rolled the team back to sea level.
“This is a sign that we have to regain that hunger again to try and get another one because there are teams out there that are trying to take it from us,” said Newsome, who, on the other hand, feels that having another stint in the EASL presents new opportunities for the Bolts.
‘Gut check’
“It’s a gut check for us, but to have another opportunity, which is something that I told the guys, is a blessing for us, to still have another chance to play in another league and to continue playing. The other teams that are out of the playoffs, they’re on vacation already whereas we still go to work and still compete. At the end of the day, it’s our job as basketball players.”
Meralco made its intent known of improving from its 1-5 record from last year’s campaign with Newsome and import Allen Durham joining hands with second reinforcement DJ Kennedy and naturalized player Ange Kouame leading the charge in the win.
The Bolts are eager to make the Final Four this time as one of the two best teams in Group B which also includes Durham’s former Japan B.League team Ryukyu Golden Kings, South Korea’s Busan KCC Egis and Taiwan’s New Taipei Kings.
The end of the Governors’ Cup campaign, however, may present a challenge for the Bolts as they won’t resume domestic duties until late November with the PBA Commissioner’s Cup. They have Ryukyu next on Oct. 16 in Okinawa and Busan on Nov. 13 at Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
“We really feel we can win,” said coach Luigi Trillo. “I think now, we can zone in on these two games and we got time.”