Mike Phillips knew this was the end. After Game 3 of the UAAP Season 88 Finals, there were no more games to be played for him at the collegiate level. This would be the last of his last rides with the DLSU Green Archers and with a championship hanging in the balance, it was the perfect opportunity to go all out. And boy, did he go ALL OUT. 

Phillips was an unstoppable force in the paint, bullying his way for much-needed points, hard-fought rebounds, and resounding blocks. At one point, he was on the receiving end of a poster dunk from Francis Nnoruka, but he could care less at being on the wrong end of a highlight reel; Phillips was chasing bigger things. 

The Filipino-American continued to operate in the paint, forcing the UP Fighting Maroons to rethink their strategy of putting Jacob Cortez on an island. Phillips’ efforts created opportunities for the likes of Vhoris Marasigan, Earl Abadam, and Kean Baclaan, who found openings that weren’t there in the previous game. It was thus no surprise that Phillips was named the UAAP Season 88 Finals MVP as his performance uplifted his team and allowed DLSU to raise the trophy that was once thought to be unattainable. 

The Green Archers went through hell and back for much of Season 88, suffering injuries, facing suspensions, and struggling through one of the worst stretches in the Topex Robinson era. Phillips was a constant presence through it all, scoring a bunch of points and gobbling rebounds to keep LaSalle in the fight. He’s the most senior member of the team, not so much in age, but in tenure, and he was part of the culture that has allowed DLSU to power through obstacles that would have made other teams fold. 

With his time with the team now finished, Phillips joins an esteemed group of Green Archers that have helped continue LaSalle’s storied tradition. In his five seasons with LaSalle, the three-time UAAP Elite Team selection left a legacy of someone whose faith has driven what he does on the court, whether that means not giving up amid adversity and protecting his teammates from trouble. Any team that signs him will surely admire these traits as much as they will appreciate the energy and effort he brings to the court. 

The post-DLSU future is now for Michael Phillips, who helped lead the Green Archers to their 11th official UAAP championship. Opportunities both here and abroad, and even with Gilas Pilipinas, are there for the taking, and his performance in Game 3 of the finals only validates his value to LaSalle and whoever picks him up. There’s plenty of time to discuss what the future holds for the Filipino-American, but for now, let’s savor the fact that Phillips was able to cap off his career as a winner and fulfill a promise he made the moment he stepped into the hallowed corridors of St. LaSalle Hall: make his mark in DLSU and leave a winner.