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Former La Salle standout Mike Phillips will get to characterize Gilas Pilipinas in FIBA play after the world governing physique for basketball labeled him as a neighborhood participant
MANILA, Philippines – Mike Phillips was as soon as advised that his enjoying days had been most likely over after a string of concussions put his basketball profession in jeopardy.
Phillips, nonetheless, not solely continues to carry out at a excessive stage, he’s additionally set for his FIBA debut with Gilas Pilipinas.
Phillips made the 12-man roster for the third window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, the place the Philippines will play back-to-back street video games in opposition to New Zealand and Australia on July 3 and 6, respectively.
“I’m overjoyed to be part of Gilas. It is a full-circle second in my life,” mentioned Phillips in Filipino. “I bear in mind my physician telling me that I would by no means play once more after I had 5 mind accidents.”
“Now, I’m enjoying for our nation.”
It is not going to be the primary time the Filipino-American ahead, a three-time Legendary Group member within the UAAP for La Salle, is donning the nationwide colours.
Phillips was a member of the squad that received all of it within the 2023 Southeast Asian Video games in Cambodia because the Philippines reclaimed the gold medal after a surprising runner-up end the yr prior in Vietnam.
That stint, although, was solely made doable because of the SEA Video games adopting a passport-only rule, with Phillips nonetheless then thought-about a naturalized participant underneath FIBA guidelines.
However with the world governing physique for basketball classifying Phillips as a neighborhood participant earlier this yr, the 23-year-old workhorse will get to characterize the nation in FIBA play with out taking the lone naturalized participant spot.
“FIBA is for the large time, it’s the large present. Being a neighborhood is absolutely my dream,” mentioned Phillips.
As he returns to nationwide workforce duties, Phillips reunites with former La Salle teammates Kevin Quiambao and Justine Baltazar and groups up with previous UAAP foes RJ Abarrientos, Juan Gomez de Liaño, and Carl Tamayo.
“I do know I’ll study loads within the FIBA video games and I’m tremendous excited,” mentioned Phillips.
Whereas Gilas head coach Tim Cone made it clear from the get-go that Phillips’ enjoying time will likely be dictated by his adjustment to the system, the champion mentor likes what he’s seeing from “Motor Mike.”
“He lends a lot vitality. He’s an amazing defender, he’s nice across the rim. We see sure areas wherein we are able to actually use him and assist the workforce,” mentioned Cone. – Rappler.com
