By MARK REY MONTEJO
Mike Phillips has played a key role in De La Salle’s title aspirations in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament.
But if there is one team Phillips would always love to share the court with, it will always be University of the East and its big man Precious Momowei.
Fresh off the Archers’ fourth straight win with an 84-72 victory over the Red Warriors at the Mall of Asia Arena, the 23-year-old Phillips said he has learned a lot with his matchup against Momowei and the struggling but still competitive UE side.
“Siguro ‘yong fighting spirit niya, hindi lang si Momowei, ‘yong buong UE, they never really look at the score, they never look at their record, and the UE community they really see that,” said Phillips, a Season 86 champion.
“I think that’s something I’m going to try to take. Of course, it’s not always going to be a success with sunshines and rainbows in the future and so just trying to apply that spirit that they have,” he added.
As the Taft-based squad rose in the standings with a 6-3 card in second place, UE, for its part, was dealt its ninth straight loss – its 14th overall from last season – to stay at the bottom.
But regardless of the Red Warriors’ record, they still came out locked in and produced some splendid showings, especially when they were facing the Green Archers.
“We know that this UE team is always going to give their best every time we play against them,” said La Salle head coach Topex Robinson.
“I’ll try to remember how they were just fighting and they never just roll out and die. They always bring a really good fight to the end. So that’s something I really admire in them,” Phillips added.
After completing his duties with the Archers, Phillips is expected to jump into the pro ranks, either in the PBA or overseas. He admitted in the past that he has a high interest in competing in the PBA.
The last time that La Salle and UE squared off was on Oct. 15, where the Archers carved out a 111-110 overtime escape against the Warriors. It was also the very same game in which Kean Baclaan suffered a season-ending injury, while UE head coach Chris Gavina and Wello Lingolingo were slapped with respective suspensions.
