Mike Phillips has the chance to once again suit up for Gilas Pilipinas in the SEA Games, and the La Salle captain expressed his excitement to team up with a new player in the national team pool.
La Salle captain Mike Phillips is among the latest names added to the Gilas Pilipinas pool for the upcoming Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, set for this December in Thailand.
And in a twist that perfectly captures the spirit of competition, the do-it-all Green Archer finds himself eager to play alongside a fierce rival from Ateneo.
“I look forward to play with [Kymani] Ladi because of how he’s outspoken about God and his story and how he came to Ateneo,” Phillips revealed to One Sports after the Green Archers' 72-69 win against UP in UAAP Season 88.
Phillips and Ladi, together with Thirdy Ravena, are the newest names on the wishlist of coach Norman Black, who will steer Gilas Men in their bid to defend the basketball gold medal from Dec. 9 to 20 in Bangkok.
[ALSO READ: Gilas adds Mike Phillips, Kymani Ladi, Thirdy Ravena to SEA Games pool]
The trio now join a stacked pool with already-mentioned names like Justin Brownlee, Angelo Kouame, Ray Parks Jr., Matthew Wright, Dave Ildefonso, Jason Brickman, Remy Martin, and Veejay Pre.
And despite being on opposite ends of the classic UAAP rivalry, Phillips said he’s looking forward to setting differences aside to represent the flag.
“I know right now we’re enemies, but when it gets to that flag, we’re gonna be brothers,” he said.
In their first duel this tournament, Ladi's Ateneo got the better of Phillips' La Salle in a wild game where the Green Archers nearly overcome a 31-point deficit in a furious fourth quarter rally.
Ateneo's Kymani Ladi and La Salle's Mike Phillips in action in their first meeting this UAAP Season 88 | Photo: The UAAP
The final eligibility rules for the 2025 SEA Games remain up in the air, which will certainly affect the final Gilas Pilipinas lineup especially with two naturalized players already on the pool.
[ALSO READ: Norman Black states Gilas vision at SEA Games: 'Not just the strongest, but also balanced']
Regardless, Phillips is no stranger to the Gilas squad as the La Salle captain was previously part of the 2023 team that clinched the gold medal in Cambodia under then–head coach Chot Reyes.
If there’s one thing fans can expect, it’s the same high-energy, relentless effort that earned him the nickname “Motor Mike.”
“I can’t wait to do everything I can for the country and for the team,” Phillips said.
He added: “I really just want to bring that energy, hustle, and all the dirty work. I’ll just be a sponge—do everything, grab rebounds, push players in practice, and learn everything I can.”
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Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.