PBA: Newsome hoping for healthy Meralco team after break

Meralco Bolts huddle during a Christmas day game against Converge in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Minus several key cogs, the Meralco Bolts haven’t been their best in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup and it showed on Christmas Day when they got manhandled by the Converge FiberXers.

The loss dropped the Bolts’ record to 3-2 as they went into the holiday break with a two-game skid.

“On our end, we have to get back to the drawing board and hopefully, we can get a lot of our guys back. We’ve been hit by the injury bug in the last few weeks and months, going into the EASL (East Asia Super League), traveling but those aren’t excuses,” said Newsome at Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday.

READ: PBA: Converge keeps streak going with Christmas win over Meralco

“Regardless of who’s out there, we have to show up and play but that’s something that we didn’t do, we failed to do it tonight,” added the Gilas guard after a 110-94 beatdown at the hands of the FiberXers.

Newsome struggled with just nine points and five rebounds but it was the Bolts’ lack of bench support that ultimately spelled doom for Meralco.

Despite that, Newsome is keeping a positive outlook for the new year, especially since the Bolts will have ample time to recover and rejuvenate before the resumption of the conference.

“We’re still positive because we’ve shown in All-Filipino that we can be down but as long as we stay together, continue believing in one another and our system, we can still make something special happen,” he said.

READ: PBA: Blackwater gets first win, hands Meralco its first loss

“By no means are we down or feeling out, we still have a winning record as of now but it’s about getting those guys back healthy so everybody can contribute because that’s Meralco basketball. That’s when we’re at our best.”

Among those currently out for Meralco are big men Brandon Bates and Raymond Almazan and young gun CJ Cansino.

Almazan, however, is expected to return from an ankle injury when the Bolts plunge back into action on January 5 against Hong Kong Eastern.

“Hopefully we get healthy [next year]. We’ve had struggles this year, lots of injuries and sickness plus we have tight EASL games but we’re professionals, we’ll deal with it. We’ll make this a motivation,” said Almazan.