Mike Phillips’ walk with God has been nothing short of inspirational.
More than his basketball skills, the way the La Salle star continues to lift up His name is a story that certainly has the power to move and inspire lives other than his own.
Being a Christian in today’s world comes with many challenges—temptations, cultural pressures, and new-age beliefs. Yet, Phillips stands as a living testimony of surrender and faith.
Through One Sports’ official Reddit account, Phillips was able to offer a glimpse of his life as a Christian athlete, shining a light on what it means to keep one’s faith at the center of the UAAP spotlight.
ROCK BOTTOM
It was during the darkest seasons of his life that Phillips truly discovered what it means to walk with God.
“I’ve had maybe five, or six brain injuries and concussions, and every single time I had one of these brain injuries, I really felt I was so alone. I was very depressed because I was just on bed rest only in my room for weeks to months at a time,” Phillips shared through a Reddit question.
“In these very, very dark places—I called it rock bottom. And my testimony is that God took me to rock bottom to show me that He is the rock at the bottom.”
“In those private places is where I heard God’s voice the loudest and in those dark places is when I felt His love the most, and He told me that He has a plan for me, and that even though I may not see His plans for me right now, He’s really gonna take me up in a high place.”
For Phillips, it was in those low points that his faith became his anchor.
Holding onto God gave him the strength to face not only his battles with injury, but also the everyday challenges of life.
Despite the demands of balancing academics and basketball, Phillips remains a source of light and energy to his DLSU teammates and everyone around him.
But as “Motor Mike” humbly admits, that strength doesn’t come entirely from himself.
“The biggest realization I had with my walk with God is when we try to be self-reliant and we try to rely on our own strength to do things, no matter what, I believe will ultimately fail,” Phillips said.
“When you talk about this infectious supply of energy, I would really only attribute that to God because God has a water that once you drink from it, it's everlasting. God has a source of energy that if you really depend on that, it'd never run out.”
That divine provision continues to shape how Phillips sees the world.
Even before games, Mike makes it a point to pray, asking God to align his plans with His and to let His love shine through him on the court.
“Every time before a game, I try to pray and say, ‘God, please align my plans with yours. Please give me the energy to show your love so that if people watch me, they would just see your love through me.’ I just believe that I'm able to have this type of energy because it's not from me. It's nothing at all of my own strength,” the UAAP champion said.
“I do believe that God calls us to be truly dependent on him, to have a life of dependency on him. And what that looks like is surrendering every step towards him. It really became so peaceful to me realizing that I can't do anything out of my own strength and my pride also died when I realized that I get everything from God and he really supplies my every need.”
BEING A LEADER
Now serving as one of the key pillars for the DLSU Green Archers in UAAP Season 88, Phillips takes his faith-driven leadership to heart.
For him, following Jesus has transformed not just his personal life, but also how he leads others.
“The biggest thing I’ve learned about being a leader is that being a leader does not just mean—just because you have a role or authority or power that you should let it get to your head,” he said.
“For me, I really let it get to my head at some points and I really did not have a good idea on what it meant to be a true leader, and now I understand that true leadership is really serving people and serving your followers, who you’re tasked to lead.”
Phillips admits he’s still getting used to being called “Kuya Mike” or “Captain Mike” by his younger teammates. But his faith helps him embrace this new role with purpose and humility.
“The biggest thing I love is now that I’m a senior, I’m seeing all these rookies coming in and bringing so much energy,” Phillips said.
“For me, my biggest role is really just trying to help inspire them. Not just only in basketball, but really just in life. Ang dami ko talagang mali sa buhay ko, kahit sa college ko sa De La Salle, just help as much as I can to guide them.”
When asked how he stays grounded despite the spotlight, Phillips simply points it all back to God.
“I kind of see that everything I do now is my work for the kingdom of Jesus. I was blessed with the gift of the platform of basketball. And so, instead of using the platform to better my own name, I use it where God elevates my name, so that I will be able to elevate his name even higher,” he said.
“So, how I can stay humble is really reminding myself that it’s really ‘God Did,’ and not me.”
For Mike Phillips, “God Did” is more than just a phrase—it’s a constant reminder of God’s hand in his life.
His purpose is clear: to use his platform not for self-glory, but to spread God’s love and inspire others through his testimony.
As Mike Phillips continues his journey with the Green Archers, his story is more than just about points, rebounds, or championships. It’s about resilience, leadership, and the reminder that even in the toughest moments, strength can come from beyond the game.
For Phillips, basketball is not just a stage to showcase talent but also a platform to live out values of humility, service, and perseverance—qualities that make him stand out both on and off the court.
And as the UAAP Season 88 unfolds, one thing is certain: his faith will remain the steady foundation behind every shot, every hustle, and every victory he chases with his team.
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Jamie Velasco is a feature writer who specializes in narratives that go beyond the sport.
She is dedicated to stories that coincide with the goal of growing Philippine volleyball, with coverage mainly focused on the PVL, Spikers’ Turf, and Alas Pilipinas.