Meralco Bolts superstar Chris Newsome is tying the knot on Friday while Gilas Pilipinas is in the early stage of its preparations for the FIBA Asia Cup 2025.
Newsome will marry his longtime girlfriend Cam Lagmay in exactly their seventh year together as a couple. The date was perfect as well since it came right after the end of Meralco’s campaign in the PBA Philippine Cup and before Gilas embarked on another competition in August in the FIBA Asia Cup.
As much as he would have wanted Meralco to still be playing at this time of the year and defending their Philippine Cup crown, the 34-year-old Newsome also felt the timing was right to get married.
"This is something that we've been looking forward to for quite some time. We were just waiting for the right time. We kind of knew what the PBA schedule was like. And we knew what the Gilas schedule was like. And so, that’s why we decided to line it up right in between. And it’s our anniversary pa, so even more special that it cleared out just in time," said Newsome.
Newsome has been busy in preparing for the wedding, especially in bringing his family to the country, while also getting ready for Gilas Pilipinas duties. The Meralco star was one of the players who attended Gilas’ first day of practice recently.
"That's been a lot of work on our end. Getting a lot of my family and relatives here in the Philippines for the first time. So getting to show them some of the places I've been. Some of the things that I've done here and some of the accomplishments that I've made while being out here.
"I think it's important for them to be able to see it with their own two eyes instead of just on TV, instead of in the media. And it’s a really special moment for me to have all of my siblings and my family here all at the same time.
"It’s never happened all 15 years that I've been here until this week. So, really exciting moment for me," said Newsome.
After he gets married, Newsome said the focus will shift back to Gilas' bid to capture another continental crown in the Asia Cup, where they it will be against New Zealand, Chinese Taipei, and Iraq in the group stage.
"Right after that wedding, got to turn it on and turn that focus back over to Gilas because we got some work to do. We’re in a tough pool. Looking forward to that revenge match against Taiwan, of course, and New Zealand. And then, of course, we got Iraq as well. So, no easy teams in our pool. We’re definitely going to have to bring our A game as soon as we touch down.
"And I think the SBP and the organization is doing a really good job of making some adjustments based off of what happened to us in Qatar. I think they got some plans for us. And that shows that they're also improving. They're also getting better and learning from the process.
"And I think that's really important for us as we continue to grow the program. So, excited to get out there, rep the Philippines. And hopefully we can get a few of those games in the group stage and get to the next round. I think that'll be a big accomplishment for us," said Newsome.
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