WITHOUT a doubt, Mike Phillips is MPBL’s biggest and brightest addition for its eighth season this 2026.
After being treated to an unprecedented haul of collegiate stars from Nic Cabañero and Kean Baclaan to the University of the Philippines' ‘Maroon Four,’ snagging the UAAP Season 88 Finals MVP is proof enough that more and more players are warming up to the regional league.
Still, Phillips' decision to go to the local league was quite the baffling move at first, especially considering he racked up quite a few offers from the Japan B.League following his title-clinching swan song with La Salle.
Complications with his classification as ‘world import’ instead of ‘Asian Quota’ player, though, made the 6-foot-8 big a tougher sell for overseas teams.
The clarification that, indeed, Phillips is a local as per FIBA rules, then came a little too late in February.
From then on, staying put in the Philippines looked like the best option for 'Motor Mike.'
Now, Phillips is ready and raring to take on the challenge of testing his mettle against young talents and veterans alike all across the country.
And though he didn’t suit up in San Juan's opening day beatdown of Pasay, he was present and in awe of the fan support, even from the sidelines.
READ: Retooled San Juan opens 2026 MPBL with blowout of Pasay
“I'm thankful. I get the energy pa rin. God kind of lined this opportunity up for me, so I'm really excited to play sa MPBL,” he shared with SPIN.ph.
Phillips for Philippines
At the same time, the 23 year old's stint with the Knights isn’t just a lucrative first soiree into the pros.
It will also serve as preparation for his bigger goal: playing for Gilas Pilipinas in the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers this July.
“They (San Juan) just reached out and told me about the opportunity of playing while waiting for Gilas as well. Para sa conditioning ko pa rin,“ he said.
READ: Don't expect Phillips in Gilas just yet for coming window, says Cone
Although suiting up for Gilas has been a well-documented dream for Phillips for quite a while now, he’s well aware that making the cut is a battle in and of itself, which is why the MPBL will come in handy.
As he put it, “I have to still earn the spot and everything. So yeah, I'm going to still try my best to earn it.”
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