La Salle Green Archers’ Mike Phillips in a UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament game. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—La Salle may have concluded the first round of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament on a high note, but the Green Archers don’t easily forget.
Mike Phillips certainly hasn’t forgotten the lone loss of the defending champions in the first round at the hands of University of the East.
Following their 68-56 win over Season 86 Finals rival University of the Philippines at Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday, Phillips expressed his excitement for the second round action, specifically against the Red Warriors.
SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 87 basketball
“I think it’s going to be a great matchup on both sides,” said Phillips.
“Me personally, [in that game] UE did a great effort. They were hitting shots here and there. You see in those last plays, they had offensive rebounds and those were really nothing but heart… I expect for them to level up even more and so do we. We’ll control the things we can control.”
Just a week before La Salle drew one of its biggest wins at the expense of the Fighting Maroons where Phillips registered four points, eight rebounds and four assists, the Green Archers were stunned by one of the season’s early dark horses.
John Abate and the UE Red Warriors celebrate against the La Salle Green Archers in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
In that game, Phillips almost did it all with 16 points, nine rebounds, five steals and two blocks but it still wasn’t enough to blow by the determined UE squad.
Another thing that got Philips more excited about their rematch was the Red Warriors’ valiant outing on the same day of La Salle’s trouncing of UP.
READ: UAAP: Loss to UE lit a fire under La Salle, admits Kevin Quiambao
When Phillips and the rest of the Taft-based squad were preparing for Sunday’s main event, UE defeated Adamson courtesy of a Wello Lingolingo buzzer-beating game winner, 63-62.
“We were in the dugout and we almost heard the screams shake the arena… For me, even though I’m a La Sallian, with the run UE’s been kind of having, I can’t help but root for those kinds of guys so for my angle, I have respect for those guys.”
Fortunately for Phillips, he won’t have to wait long to get his hands on UE as the Red Warriors will be the defending kings’ first order of business in the second round.
At 6 pm at Araneta Coliseum on Saturday, La Salle and UE clash following Adamson and Far Eastern University’s showdown at 4 pm.