Mike Phillips can still vividly remember the first time he got the call-up to serve the country.
Back in 2023, Phillips — then entering his senior year at De La Salle University — was tapped by Chot Reyes to join a ragtag Gilas Pilipinas squad for the 32nd Southeast Asian Games.
“I remember the first time. I just called my parents, called my kuya, and we were just all excited. Siyempre talaga, nag-enjoy talaga ako nung SEA Games, ang dami kong natutunan,” he recalled.
(C) POC-PSC Media Group
Back then, Phillips, Jerom Lastimosa, and Mason Amos were among the UAAP standouts who joined the likes of Justin Brownlee, Chris Ross, Chris Newsome, Christian Standhardinger, Marcio Lassiter, Calvin Oftana, CJ Perez, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, and Arvin Tolentino — a group dubbed the “Redeem Team.”
Against unfavorable rules and challenging conditions, they went on to conquer Cambodia and clinch the gold medal.
Fast forward three years later, Phillips once again found himself on the receiving end of another call, this time from Tim Cone.
The summons was not just for the 20th Asian Games, but as part of the Gilas Pilipinas squad set to face Australia and New Zealand on the road for Window 3 of the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
The feeling of being called up remains the same for the 6-foot-8 bruiser.
“Sobrang saya ko at ang tagal namin itong hinintay, kasi SBP has been working so hard. Ma’am Erika Dy has been working so hard for so many years. Sobrang saya ko na nakasama ako sa Final 12 at excited akong maglaro para sa bayan,” he said after San Juan’s 114-79 rout of Pasig in the MPBL.
“Sobrang malaking bagay pero hindi pa gaanong nagsi-sink-in sa akin. Kahit sa practices namin ngayon, grabe yung mga beterano at system ni Coach Tim. I’m excited na matuto ng maraming bagay.”
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
This time around, he is sharing the Gilas stage with fellow La Salle standouts Justine Baltazar and Kevin Quiambao in what he described as a “full-circle moment” for the trio.
“Super excited, Kevin is my boy and si Balti, siya yung captain ko nung first year ko sa La Salle. Full-circle talaga. We have the Animo pride.”
Now, he will no longer be representing La Salle in general but San Juan and the MPBL.
He is also looking forward to showing how much his game has grown from his UAAP days to now in the MPBL and with Gilas.
“Hopefully, I can represent the MPBL as well in a good way. Marami talagang player na magaling dito sa MPBL,” he said.
With reports from Icko de Guzman
