UAAP: La Salle’s Mike Phillips still day-to-day with ankle injury

La Salle’s Mike Phillips in a UAAP game. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—La Salle’s Mike Phillips is still listed as day-to-day for the Green Archers as the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball tournament elimination round nears its end.

Still nursing an ankle injury from a few days ago, coach Topex Robinson revealed that Phillips’ appearance for the last elimination day against Ateneo is still up in the air.

“As of now, Mike is still day-to-day, we’re still trying to make sure that he’s going to be ready for the next round of our phase,” said Robinson after their 80-70 win against Far Eastern University at Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday.

“It’s still the ankle but actually, it’s more manageable now but like I said, we have an influx of bigs that can cover for him while he’s still recovering but he’ll be ready. It’s just a matter of us giving him the green light so he can play.”

The Green Archers did pretty well for themselves despite missing the star big man against the Tamaraws.

Kevin Quiambao and Jonnel Policarpio took care of the dirty work in the paint with 11 rebounds each.

Phillips’ absence, though, was still felt by the squad as a whole after FEU outworked La Salle in the boards department, 48-41.

That doesn’t matter much for Robinson,  who is not rushing the 6-foot-10’s recovery from injury. As long as Phillips can return to his form, the Green Archers won’t mind waiting.

“Knowing Mike, he doesn’t have any in-between. Either he goes hard or bust. Actually, right now we told him to stay in the dorm because if another situation like this happens, I’m sure he’s going to enter the court and invite to help the team. That’s how competitive he is.”

With or without Phillips, La Salle will write its newest chapter with the Blue Eagles at Araneta Coliseum on Saturday.