CHICAGO - The bad news came just a few days after July 7 when Gilas Pilipinas returned from a pair of FiBA qualifying windows in New Zealand and Australia.
Through his representation, Mike Phillips informed the San Juan Knights that he was leaving.
And as the 6-foot-8, 230-lb forward walked out the door, so did, in all likelihood, the team’s championship aspirations.
READ San Juan fumes as Mike Phillips leaving Knights 'for Japan B.League'
In his 10-game MPBL stint, “Motor Mike” averaged 8.4 points, 10.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.3 blocks while logging 23.6 minutes a contest.
Beyond the tangible stats, San Juan lost its energizer and glue guy on defense.
BUT WHY?
“After returning from Gilas (road games) bruised and battered, we wanted Mike to rest his body to ensure that he would be healthy and optimal for whatever the next opportunity would be,” his management team told me via text message.
Compounding their concerns is the notoriously physical play in the MPBL, which has resulted in previous instances of nosebleeds and other aches.
All Phillips had to do to cut a clean break was to activate an opt-out clause which was “signed and agreed upon by all parties from the beginning of the contract,” Mike Phillips' camp said.
In view of what Phillips’ camp described as “life-changing opportunities,” Motor Mike will now “pivot from the original hopes of next year’s PBA Draft, but we want to always keep the door open."
WHERE TO?
His handlers are currently evaluating multiple overseas offers that have sprung following in the aftermath of Phillips’ stellar national team debut.
They’re not giving any hints, but It smells like cherry blossoms.
Meanwhile, with Mike subtracted from the equation, the burden of the Knights’ destiny has fallen on the broad shoulders of former UP star Harold Alarcon.
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