CHICAGO - Gleaned from the lens of his public life as the only doctoral student athlete in the Philippines, these are just few of the things most of us know about the former La Salle Green Archer.
Cerebral in his approach, relentless in his execution. He's like a sleek race car with a gear shift that starts at third. And while the then 24-year old 220-pound big could be outrun, the Fil-Am from Ohio will never be outworked.
Nearly two years since his collegiate career ended, now with a BS in Business from Miami University (OH), an MBA from DLSU and a Doctorate focused on AI, Ben Phillips is still glowing brightly like that namesake light bulb.
This time, though, the UAAP champion, who was drafted 21st overall by Converge in the 2024 PBA draft, is winning in the game of life.
Phillips is currently a Business Program Manager at Microsoft/XBOX, a dream job he got by beating at least 30,000 other applicants. Raking in a six-figure annual salary, he's on the Minecraft Team at Mojang Studios where he helps with "all the rhythms of business and business operations at the highest-selling video game of all time."
The pursuit of a more tenured career, one that is less beholden to the ravages of aging and physical injuries, is the reason why Ben elected not to play in the PBA or any other pro league.
Sure, he romanticized the thought of being a rich athlete, flying on his own Gulfstream jet with a Patek Phillippe dangling on his wrist.
If he gets there, it would be through business, in a long and happy haul.
LIVING A BALANCED LIFE.
With his work life blooming, so is Ben's affairs of the heart.
Currently engaged, he is set to be married in Ohio in August 2026, "hopefully, with many Filipino family and teammates in attendance."
The love of his life, Talia, is definitely no lightweight.
A decorated Division 1 soccer star from Bowling Green State University, Talia has a master's degree in both business administration and health services administration. She toils at the Regulatory Affairs at Johnson and Johnson, a Fortune 500 company like Microsoft.
A true power couple in the making.
Ben arrived in the Philippines this past Sunday to root for La Salle and his younger brother Mike's Season 88 Final Four run, Before he settled in, he took us on a trip down memory lane.
"There's nothing like UAAP basketball. I try to explain to my friends and teammates back home what it's like to play overseas in Manila and win a championship in front of 30,000 people at the same arena where Muhammad Ali fought.There's no comparison," he said.
HOOPS CONFESSIONS.
His greatest ride, "a perfect storybook ending," he recalls, was Season 86 when he was "named team captain alongside Evan Nelle, got to play with both of my younger brothers and we were able to win the championship that year."
Ben, who won a SEA Games gold medal as well and went to the men's volleyball Final Four as a middle blocker for La Salle, appreciated his time in the UAAP.
He had fond, vivid memories of La Salle-Ateneo rivalry, and he dissected Pinoy hoops like a thesis.
"Filipinos play such a different style of basketball compared to how I grew up in the US, with more puso, more aggression,and the ability to create shots at any size and level is starting to get the recognition it deserves in international leagues and global markets."
He considers Schonny Winston as one of his favorite teammates because of his "play-making ability and defense." He also cited Francis Escandor whose work ethic allowed Escandor to rise from a practice player into "a highly dependable shooter."
HOW ABOUT THE OPPOSING SIDE?
"Zav Lucero was always a match-up I looked forward to. Him and I were really good competitors and I hated guarding him when he would slash open lanes and find second-chance points out of nowhere."
So, how was it like playing for Topex Robinson?
"He did a wonderful job of empowering his players and maximizing their potential. He was able to bring us all together by shielding us from external noise and negativity during the season. He didn't micromanage to constrain any player's play style."
Now age 26, with a little more corporate meat in his once-sculpted Adonis physique, Ben keeps plays in the Microsoft Hoops League as well as other leagues around Seattle where he would, on occasion, run with Jamal Crawford and the former NBAer's son.
And to stay in shape, to get those competitive juices flowing, he had just taken up, get this, Muay Thai.
And that martial arts pivot is no surprise.
Ben Phillips always kicks ass.
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