MANILA, Philippines – The La Salle Green Archers, as expected, now hold solo first place in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament with a 3-0 record following a 74-61 blowout of historic rival Ateneo Blue Eagles on Sunday, September 15.
Kevin Quiambao led the way as usual with 13 points, 13 rebounds, and 7 assists in the rout that saw a 40-all second-quarter tie vanish with a massive 17-2 breakaway bridging the two middle frames, and right next to him was the ever-energetic Michael Phillips with a 13-point, 14-board double-double.
Asked about once again leading by example at the hustle department for his teammates despite playing just 20 minutes off the bench, the fourth-year forward gave an insightful take that transcended stat sheets and technical Xs and Os.
“Speaking about the hustle, I get my strength from the Lord,” he said. “It’s in Isaiah 40:30-31: ‘Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.'”
“When I say I get my strength from the Lord, the Lord is not just the man from above, it’s all my teammates. So when I see these guys, they’re serving each other, it’s an inspiration for me, so my faith is a big part where I get my strength from.”
Inspired by powers both earthly and otherwise, Phillips’ energy was oozing at the turn of the two halves, as the 6-foot-8 scrapper scored the halftime buzzer-beating tip-in to give La Salle a 44-40 lead, a precursor of the added beatdown Ateneo was about to suffer in the third quarter and beyond.
“Even when I’m tired, I look to my teammates, I see Jesus in them, I see Jesus Christ in my teammates, so when I’m growing tired, I just look to them, and I look to the Lord above to get my strength and so, that’s the reason,” continued Phillips, the top man responsible for La Salle’s huge 62-38 rebound differential.
“It’s bigger than basketball for me because this is a family that I’ve been a part of for five or six years and every time I’m with them, I get emotional because they’re extensions of Jesus Christ and coach Topex came in and really put that culture here, so I’m just thankful to these two guys especially right here, and especially to the Lord above.”
With La Salle’s title-retention bid off to an excellent, perfect start, players are expected to hold mindsets only befitting champions.
As a leader should, Phillips already has his heart and mind clearly in the right place, and it’s now up to his teammates to follow suit. – Rappler.com
