Mike Phillips embodying ‘malayo na pero malayo pa’ mindset for La Salle

La Salle’s Mike Phillips.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.web

MANILA, Philippines—After considered one of La Salle’s preseason championships in Davao, Francis Escandor approached Mike Phillips and instructed him phrases that he would carry transferring ahead.

“Malayo na pero malayo pa.” (We’ve come a great distance however now we have a protracted technique to go.)

After the Inexperienced Archers’ big win towards Ateneo within the second spherical of the UAAP Season 86 males’s basketball event, Phillips bared that Escandor’s phrases resonated with him even after the essential win that put them in prime place for a twice-to-beat benefit.

“Malayo na pero malayo pa. So we nonetheless have a protracted technique to go. It was an incredible sport right this moment going towards our rivals, I ran out of power however they have been drained too. They fought onerous and so effectively and I give credit score to Ateneo for giving us such a troublesome, powerful win and hopefully we will use this momentum once we get to the Last 4,” mentioned Phillips after their 72-69 win over the Blue Eagles at Araneta Coliseum on Saturday.

“I’m nonetheless attempting to be taught Tagalog and phrases like these simply encapsulate a lot in just some phrases… That sort of caught with me. Each time you hear phrases like these and Kobe’s ‘job’s not completed,’ I simply love seeing that mindset, that simply rubs off on me.”

La Salle Inexperienced Archers within the UAAP Season 86 males’s basketball event. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.web

Phillips—together with his newfound proverb in hand—fueled La Salle to its eighth straight win with a double-double of 10 factors and 14 rebounds.

The 6-foot-10 massive man, although, is aware of that their scorching streak shouldn’t be a cause for them to have their egos inflated. In spite of everything, “malayo na pero malayo pa” applies to them with the last word purpose of successful the title nonetheless distant.

“Even with this [second round] sweep, I don’t need us to be boastful however simply to remain humble and simply actually do our half in staying prepared for whoever we’ll face.”

The Inexperienced Archers completed No. 2 within the Last 4 race with a twice-to-beat benefit after the highest three placings have been determined on the finish of the elimination spherical on Sunday.

They’ll face Nationwide College, which wound up third seed, armed with a win-once bonus.

However even earlier than La Salle came upon whom it can face within the Last 4, which begins on November 25, Philips mentioned the staff has been making ready for the hardest situation.

“That’s one of many hardest issues within the UAAP. Everybody can play and so they’re at that degree however like coach [Topex Robinson] says, it’s onerous to inform who we’ll face,” he mentioned.

“What we will do is be as prepared as we will. We performed every staff twice now however you all know that in terms of the Last 4, iba talaga (it’s totally different).”