Chris Newsome career-best down the drain with Game 4 loss


Meralco Bolts’ Chris Newsome during Game 4 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals against San Miguel Beermen. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

SCHEDULE: PBA Finals San Miguel vs Meralco

MANILA, Philippines—It may have been a career night for Chris Newsome, but that was the last thing on his mind after Meralco Bolts’ ‘ Game 4 loss to San Miguel in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.

Newsome scored a career best 40 points  only for the Bolts to lose to the Beermen and have the series pushed back to square one at 2-2.

“They made their adjustments. That’s what a playoff series is all about. They definitely came with a lot more energy today and you certainly saw it,” said Newsome.

“111? That’s definitely more than we’re used to giving up so for us it’s back to the drawing board and get back to playing Meralco basketball.”

READ: PBA Finals: San Miguel gets back at Meralco to tie series at 2-2

The final count is the largest scoring output for both squads, putting Meralco’s defensive prowess to shame.

Other than 40 points, Newsome also snagged six rebounds and four assists but it still wasn’t enough to give the Bolts the commanding 3-1 lead.

Instead of celebrating his new career milestone, Newsome chose to look ahead to Game 5 where the Bolts can take the pivotal 3-2 lead.

“It’s a best-of-three now l it’s going to come down to who’s playing the best  basketball at the right time. It’’s a tough loss for us today but that’s why we got the win in the last game, to have that advantage. We’re back to square one. It’s back to square one.”

“It’s going to be a grind out for the rest of the series.”

Meralco and San Miguel go at it again on Friday to see who gets the commanding 3-2 lead.

PH concludes Fifa World Cup qualifying campaign with loss


Philippines’ players sing their national anthem before start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualification football match between Indonesia and Philippines at Gelora Bung Karno stadium in Jakarta on June 11, 2024. (Photo by Bay ISMOYO / AFP)

The Philippine men’s football team wrapped up its Fifa World Cup Qualifiers campaign with a 2-0 loss to Indonesia Tuesday at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta.

Goals scored courtesy of Thom Haye and Rizky Ramadhani from each half allowed the Indonesians to progress into the final round of the qualifiers while the team formerly known as the Azkals ended with just one point on one draw in six matches.

About 65,000 fans watched the match which was a non-bearing or coach Tom Sainfiet’s side after its elimination was confirmed last week with a heartbreaking 3-2 away loss to Vietnam in Hanoi.

READ: Indonesia ‘closer to dream’ of Fifa World Cup after beating PH

Next up for the Philippines is the third round of the qualifiers for the 2027 Asian Cup which it will try to secure as one of the six group winners.

Haye scored for Indonesia in the 32nd minute after the Philippines kept things scoreless behind a few saves from goalkeeper Kevin Ray Mendoza, who was placed in the starting lineup.

The Philippine side tried to equalize in the second half, but Indonesia eventually doubled its lead near the hour mark on Ramadhani’s header.

Late in the match, the Philippines saw one of its new players go down with an injury when Adrian Ugelvik got elbowed by Indonesia keeper Ernando Sutaryadi during stoppage time.

The team said Ugelvik, in only his second cap, underwent observation at a hospital in the Indonesian capital.