De La Salle University’s Mike Phillips. Photo from UAAP Media.

MANILA — De La Salle University's Mike Phillips and National University's Camille Clarin delivered exceptional performances for their respective teams as the UAAP Season 87 basketball tournaments' elimination round nears its end.

With a few games before the Final 4 starts, Phillips and Clarin provided crucial help for their respective squads, and these resulted in them being hailed as the Collegiate Press Corps' (CPC) UAAP Players of the Week for the period of November 3 to 10.

Phillips edged out Far Eastern University's Mo Konateh in a hotly-contested vote, Adamson University''s AJ Fransman, and the University of Santo Tomas' Nic Cabañero for the weekly honor.

The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 15.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 3.0 steals, and one block in DLSU's 2-0 week, making him the top choice among reporters in the men's tournament.

Phillips stepped up for the Green Archers against FEU, filling the void on a rare off night from reigning MVP Kevin Quiambao, and recorded 17 points, 15 rebounds, two assists, five steals, and two blocks in a hard-fought 58-53 victory.

READ: La Salle reasserts mastery of UP to secure top seed

"I'm just so happy with the role that coach [Topex Robinson] gave me," said Phillips, who scored 11 of his 17 points in the final quarter against the Tamaraws.

"I just try to be one of the leaders on the defense and the energy, and a lot of times I still struggle with my offensive end, and sometimes too much energy, and it's not channeled the right way, but that's why I trust in my teammates." 

Even as Quiambao found his usual lethal form, Phillips still followed up with another double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds, along with an assist and a steal, in the defending champions' 77-66 victory over their growing rivals, the UP Fighting Maroons.

National University’s Camille Clarin. Photo from UAAP Media.

Meanwhile, Clarin's leadership has been pivotal in keeping the Lady Bulldogs undefeated as they ramp up their preparation in hopes of reclaiming the women's championship.

The 5-foot-10 guard averaged 15.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.3 steals in another perfect week for NU, highlighted by a 76-70 victory over archrivals UST. In that game, Clarin scored 21 points (18 in the first half), along with seven rebounds, four assists, one steal, and a block.

READ: Lady Bulldogs continue to roll, overwhelm Adamson

Clarin earned a unanimous vote, prevailing over standouts like Ateneo de Manila University's Sarah Makanjuola, DLSU's Kyla Sunga, and UST's Tacky Tacatac.

"I take a big responsibility in being the captain. I know a lot of these girls look up to me. Not necessarily to score but just to lead the team, to keep us level-headed the whole game. So, I take that responsibility very highly," said Clarin, whose leadership has been key to the Lady Bulldogs' victories in the preliminaries.

"And I know that even if I'm struggling, they have my back, so I gotta make sure I do that for them as well."

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