La Salle co-captain Mike Phillips has always been vocal about his faith, using his platform in the UAAP to be a positive influence.
For the common basketball player, conversations with friends and teammates often revolve around the sport — debating who they think has the best handles, or perhaps which new basketball shoe is the best to hoop in at the moment.
But for La Salle co-captain Mike Phillips, he’d much rather speak about something that means more to him both as a player and as a person.
[RELATED: La Salle's Mike Phillips says playing pro in the Philippines will be ‘greatest blessing’]
Not one to shy away from speaking his mind, Phillips has often used his voice to speak out about his faith.
Phillips incorporates his relationship with God oftentimes in interviews, and relates most of his success to his strong dependency on what he believes in.
“Sports is one of the most amazing vessels because sports brings so many people together,” Phillips said of using his position in La Salle to share the Word of God.
“In the UAAP, it brings all these students, all these professors, all these alumni together. And so what I've learned personally is that we have all these people together. God has brought everyone together. And it's really to bring glory and to point them towards His name,” he added.
Being a beacon of faith
Phillips’ motivations behind his continuous push to share his faith comes from a place of love and care for his fellow athletes, and for everyone he interacts with.
Mike Phillips is among the veteran players in the DLSU Green Archers squad. | Photo: RM Chua / One Sports
For the graduating senior, he knows that not everyone is exposed to the same belief as him.
With the power to influence people thanks to his role as a UAAP basketball star, Phillips believes that he has enough of a space to speak about — and more importantly show — what he believes God’s love is all about.
At the end of the day, Phillips wants to show off something more than just basketball.
“My purpose in life, I found it here in La Salle, was to use my platform and to use our platform to spread that love of God. Because sometimes… I heard this phrase that sometimes you're the only Bible that people will read. Because, you know, some people aren't really exposed,” he said.
“But how we play, how we carry ourselves, and now that we're really trying to have a voice, God elevates our name so that we may elevate His name even higher.”
Phillips is returning for one more year with the DLSU Green Archers and will now be the one leaned on to steady the ship after Kevin Quiambao’s departure.
La Salle opens its redemption bid in UAAP Season 88 when the Green Archers face off against Adamson on Saturday, September 20, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
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Luisa Morales is a sports writer with a special interest in promoting women’s sports.
Her coverage highlights include the UAAP, PVL, Southeast Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup. She also follows Alex Eala, the Philippine women’s national football team, and mixed martial arts.