Chris Newsome during Gilas Pilipinas’ tune-up game against Macau Black Bears. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Chris Newsome flew with the rest of the Gilas Pilipinas crew to Saudi Arabia on Thursday carrying with him—like the rest of the team members—the prayers of his basketball-crazed nation as they campaign in the Fiba Asia Cup.
The champion PBA guard with the Meralco Bolts, meanwhile, has another person he would love playing for from now on.
“I have extra motivation and a new sense of purpose,” Newsome told the Inquirer, referring to the former Cam Lagmay with whom he tied the knot with a few days before the Nationals rallied in the second half to win over Macau, 103-98, in a friendly on Monday. “A lot of those come whenever you take different steps in life.
“I’m happy everything with the wedding went well and I’m happy that I got my first [win] as a married man so it’s a great feeling.”
The 35-year-old Newsome will be on another tour with the Nationals, and he is just happy that he added another piece to his support system.
The successful wedding ended weeks of planning and work, and Newsome had gone to Jeddah practically stress-free and ready to lay it all down for flag and country once again.
“It’s not just about basketball,” he said. “But it’s also about being a better man and a better person and getting married is definitely one of those things.”
His desire to play for his better half couldn’t have been more evident than in the game against the Black Bears.
Newsom wore something that took a lot of attention, even during the warm-ups. And it was in his shoes.
Not because they were a cool pair of Nike Kobe 5 “X-Ray,” it was a ring that was intertwined in the laces that was the eye candy.
“This is the (wedding) ring, yes!” said an excited Newsome when asked by the Inquirer. “That is my ring. I’m not allowed to wear it on my hand (during games) so I make sure that I wear it on my shoe just so my wife always knows that she’s always with me.”
Cam, like all the other better halves and partners of the gritty 12 though, is left to support his groom from home.
And he has nothing but thanks for Cam.
“Shoutout to Mrs. Newsome, thank you for your support,” Newsome said. “I definitely wouldn’t be here without you and you help me reach for the stars because I know that I have you at home and you always have my back.
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“I love you forever, Mrs. Newsome. Forever New!”
