La Salle’s Mike Phillips in UAAP Season 86. Photo from UAAP Media.

Romwel Anzures

ABS-CBN News

<div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);min-height:13.8px"><span></span><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1725444094477IMG_4857.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="La Salle’s Mike Phillips in UAAP Season 86. Photo from UAAP Media."/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">La Salle’s Mike Phillips in UAAP Season 86. <em>Photo from UAAP Media</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — De La Salle University is in prime position to defend the UAAP men&#x27;s basketball championship.</p><p>Led by reigning league and Finals MVP Kevin Quiambao, the Topex Robinson-coached squad looks to keep the crown in Vito Cruz and extend their reign at the top of the UAAP further.</p><p>But they will have to do this sans the leadership of Evan Nelle, Mark Nonoy, and Francis Escandor, as the two key guards of their Season 86 Championship run are now in the PBA with NorthPort, TerraFirma and Rain or Shine, respectively.</p><p>Fortunately for the Green Archers, another DLSU pillar is ready to step up and fill in the holes left by the duo — big man Mike Phillips. </p><p>&quot;Yes. Hopefully, I&#x27;m ready,&quot; the 6-foot-8, fourth-year player told ABS-CBN News.</p><p>&quot;It&#x27;s my second to last year, and you know, Coach Topex is making 16 leaders in the team. He wants every single person to lead, so that&#x27;s what I&#x27;ve been trying to embrace. Swerte naman ako meron akong Kuya Josh [David]. I kinda always looked up to him and how he leads not by words but by actions. That&#x27;s something I try to replicate,&quot; he added.</p><p>Phillips also added how he understands the need for him to transform into one of La Salle&#x27;s leaders, especially since they have a bunch of newcomers in the likes of Doys Dungo and Lian Ramiro.</p><p>&quot;Seeing how much impact I may have with the rookies. They will see na ganito pala sa UAAP, ganito pala sa La Salle, so I kinda view that responsibility more important now,&quot; he said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/9/4/uaap-open-to-discuss-new-rules-on-player-transfer-with-cayetano-1624">READ: UAAP &#x27;open&#x27; to discuss new rules on player transfer with Cayetano</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/9/4/uaap-to-implement-stricter-rules-on-player-transfers-starting-season-87-1242">READ: UAAP to implement stricter rules on player transfers starting Season 87</a></div><p>Helping Phillips&#x27; cause, he said, is their offseason that included a stint at the Kadayawan Invitational wherein they defeated Phoenix and Converge, and faced eventual champions Rain Or Shine in the Finals. </p><p>&quot;We&#x27;ve been to Japan, and then Davao, marami talagang naging pagkakataon makalaban yung high talent, especially those PBA teams,&quot; the Filipino-American pointed out. </p><p>&quot;We learned a lot, and we tried to simulate the UAAP conditions playing against those tough PBA teams. We also had a recent game against [College of Saint Benilde], and it was the last preparation we had for the UAAP.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Overall, it was a learning experience for us, and humbling too. We kinda saw na ganito talaga yung talent, they&#x27;re really at the next level that we&#x27;re trying to hopefully get to one day. Those guys are in places that I wanna be.&quot;</p><p>Those experiences were also an eye-opener for Phillips, as he also hopes to enter the PBA someday. </p><p>&quot;I wanna be in the PBA, hopefully, God-willing, one day, and playing at a high level. So just to be able to share that court with them, it gave us a lot of confidence. Even though they&#x27;re pros and they are giving it to us, it was definitely a great experience for us,&quot; he said. </p><p>On the other hand, while Phillips obviously wants to become a back-to-back UAAP champion with the aid of their extensive offseason preparations, what is more important for him is savoring his remaining years in La Salle. </p><p>&quot;I would say that my biggest goal is to enjoy the moment. Mabilis lang talaga ang panahon. When I see the rookies come in: &#x27;Ay, ako yung rookie dati!&#x27; So for me, it&#x27;s not getting caught up with the pressure and the noise,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;There&#x27;s gonna be highs and lows, but if I remember something from my past seasons, it&#x27;s just the bonding time with the team. When we were at our very low points, yung pinaka mababa, the players I was with are still here.&quot;</p><p>Unfortunately, however, he will now be missing his brother Ben who was also previously drafted in the PBA with Converge.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:813px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1725443778136IMG_4855.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">DLSU’s Ben, Isaiah, and Mike Phillips. <em>Photo by UAAP Media. </em></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);min-height:13.8px"><span></span></div><p>&quot;Yun lang, si Isaiah na lang. &#x27;Di pa nga ako sanay dun eh, pero I always call him. I&#x27;ll definitely miss him but I&#x27;m sure that he&#x27;s gonna be there to support me,&quot; he admitted.</p><p>&quot;He&#x27;s been by my side ever since I came here, and I&#x27;m still not used to hearing his voice,&quot; ended Mike, who entered the UAAP alongside his Kuya Ben in Season 84. </p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><ivs-player data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-vid="3067740"></ivs-player></div><script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script>

<p>De La Salle University is in prime position to defend the UAAP men’s basketball championship.</p>

De La Salle University is in prime position to defend the UAAP men’s basketball championship.

Mike Phillips ready to step up as one of La Salle’s leaders for Season 87 | ABS-CBN

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Mike Phillips ready to step up as one of La Salle’s leaders for Season 87

Mike Phillips ready to step up as one of La Salle’s leaders for Season 87

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 04, 2024 07:39 PM PHT

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Updated Sep 04, 2024 11:49 PM PHT

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