Quentin Millora-Brown and Mike Phillips during Game 1 of the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Basketball Finals between UP Fighting Maroons and La Salle Green Archers. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Mike Phillips had nothing but good things to say about University of the Philippines’ Quentin Millora-Brown despite La Salle losing Game 1 in the men’s basketball final of UAAP Season 87.
Following La Salle’s 73-65 loss to the Fighting Maroons at Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, Phillips tipped his hat to UP counterpart Millora-Brown for his stellar debut on the Finals stage.
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“I love him, he’s a great guy. Even when we were fighting, he would talk to me and encourage me, going back and forth with me in a friendly way,” Phillips said.
RESULTS: UAAP Season 87 Basketball Finals, Game 1 – La Salle vs. UP
“What I like about him is his engine. I’m not saying he doesn’t have talent, but he’s really a good example of someone who has drive, drive, energy and doesn’t need talent. It’s just that he’s talented and he has those things.
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Phillips and Millora-Brown went on several back-and-forths in the second half of the game that saw blocks, ones, buckets and everything in between.
Mike Phillips of La Salle Green Archers during game 1 of the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Basketball Tournament Final against UP Fighting Maroons. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Phillips recorded a boisterous double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds plus five assists and a matching steal.
However, Millora-Brown had the last laugh with an identical total of 17 points plus nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block for good measure to push UP to the brink of winning the Season 87 title.
READ: UAAP Finals: a perfect farewell within reach of Quentin Millora-Brown
The Green Archers energy manager said it would take a herculean effort for La Salle to not just limit the QMB in the next game and even the series at 1-1.
“With a player like QMB, this won’t be a one-man job. No one in UP can be managed by the work of one man. We’ll need 16 players, including guys from our bench who maybe didn’t see the field last game,” Phillips said.
“It’s really about who wants it the most and also who believes in themselves and each other the most and I’m really excited.”
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The second game of the final between UP and La Salle will take place on Wednesday, still inside the Big Dome, at the same prime time, at 5:30 p.m.
