Michael Phillips played like a man possessed against archrival Ateneo de Manila University on Saturday in the UAAP Season 86 Men’s Basketball Tournament.
The 32nd Southeast Asian Games gold medalist contributed 10 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, four steals, and two blocks as the De La Salle Green Archers prevailed 72-69 over the Blue Eagles to sweep the second round.
Unless National University beats University of the Philippines by 39 points on Sunday, La Salle is already assured of a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four, which is a massive turnaround from last season when they failed to even make the semifinals.
“Siyempre, nandiyan pa rin yung masamang lasa, napakasamang lasa na hindi kami pasok sa Final Four last season.
“We’re just really trying to use that as fuel, as experience. They stay as mistakes if you don’t learn from them,” said Phillips.
“We’re just trying to keep this momentum going. Lahat ng tinuturo sa amin ni coach is really coming to fruition now. For us to move further, we really have to trust the coach, trust the system. Makikita niyo na lahat ng work ni coach Topex (Robinson), lahat ng behind the scenes (work) from the whole coaching staff. I’m glad I have these coaches and players. That’s gonna help us go and use that experience to go as far as we can,” the third-year bruiser continued.
If the Green Archers indeed secure the twice-to-beat advantage, they will have their best chance of returning to the finals since their last appearance back in Season 80.
La Salle has made the Finals 15 times it held the playoff incentive and things are looking up for the team on that end.
The Lasallian community always enjoys wins against Ateneo. For the Green Archers, it is just another day at the office, aiming for something higher than a Final Four ticket, and games like these will only toughen them up.
“Yung naalala ko na sinabi ng isang teammate ko dati, di ko alam kung tama ‘to, ‘malayo na pero malayo pa.’
“Tama ba yung sinabi ko? We still have a long way to go. That was a great game today against the archrivals,” said Phillips.
“Naubusan ako. Naubusan yung whole team but they were tired too but they fought hard, they fought so well. I just give credit to Ateneo for giving us such a tough, tough win and hopefully, we can use this momentum going into the Final Four. It’s gonna be a lot of tough matchups, and a lot of tough games going ahead,” he closed.
