Despite a tight schedule brought by his ongoing UAAP duties with De La Salle University Green Archers, Mike Phillips remains focused and confident as he joins Gilas Pilipinas for the upcoming 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Thailand.
In an interview with Green Archers center, limited preparation for the tournament is nothing new — limited preparation time and overlapping commitments.
“Maiksi din ang preparation time namin [noong 2023],” he recalled. “But si coach Chot [Reyes] and coach Tim [Cone], they’re so cohesive and they’re able to put the team together that I stole a lot of their tactics in getting us to bond and we do that in La Salle.”
“They’re no strangers in dealing with the scheduling and getting players from different teams so I’m really confident on coach Norman doing that as well,” he added.
“Malakas ang tiwala ko sa preparations sa SEA Games,” said the La Salle big man, who will suit up for the national team for the second straight SEA Games.
Phillips is one of three collegiate players called up by Gilas head coach Norman Black, alongside Ateneo’s Kymani Ladi and UP’s Veejay Pre.
The Filipino-American center also represented the country in the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia, where the Philippines reclaimed the gold medal.
The SEA Games basketball tournament will serve as Phillips’ latest opportunity to don the Philippine colors, as he aims to contribute to the team’s gold medal defense under coach Black’s guidance. (AC)
