Veteran players Mike Phillips and Camille Clarin take the lead for top seeds La Salle and NU in the final stretch of eliminations in UAAP Season 87.
Top teams De La Salle Green Archers and NU Bulldogs relied on veteran players Mike Phillips and Camille Clarin as they continued the push for their respective title bids, taking the Collegiate Press Corps UAAP Players of the Week for the period of November 3 to 10.
As the end of elimination nears, Phillips and Clarin powered their teams to undefeated weeks that kept them at the No. 1 spot heading into the anticipated Final Four matches after the FIBA break.
For Phillips, it was a hotly contested affair where the La Salle big man edged out FEU’s Mo Konateh for the plum presented by the Philippine Sports Commission. Also nominated for the award were Adamson’s AJ Fransman, and UST’s Nic Cabañero.
But Phillips’ averages of 15.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, three steals, and one block in La Salle’s 2-0 week helped him nip his fellow nominees in the citation.
Against FEU, Phillips was particularly crucial as he filled the void of a misfiring Kevin Quiambao, finishing with 17 points, 15 rebounds, two assists, five steals, and two blocks in their close 58-53 win.
Meanwhile, he also added a double-double of 14 points and 10 boards in their rivalry game against UP, even as Quiambao rediscovered his form.
“I’m just so happy with my role that coach [Topex Robinson] gave me," said Phillips after their win over FEU.
"I just try to be one of the leaders on the defense and the energy, and a lot of times I still struggle with my offensive end, and sometimes too much energy, and it’s not channeled the right way, but that’s why I trust in my teammates."
Meanwhile, Clarin has found her mark in recent games, as she helped the Lady Bulldogs remain undefeated at 12-0.
The 5-foot-10 guard posted norms of 15 points, 4.7 rebounds, four assists, and 1.3 steals in another perfect for the Lady Bulldogs, which also included a 76-70 victory over last year’s champions UST.
Against the Growling Tigresses, Clarin scored 21 points (18 in the first half), along with seven rebounds, four assists, one steal, and a block.
She earned the unanimous vote for the plum supported Discovery Suites and World Balance as minor sponsors, she prevailed over Ateneo’s Sarah Makanjoula, DLSU’s Kyla Sunga, and UST’s Tacky Tacatac.
“I take big responsibility in being the captain. I know a lot of these girls look up to me. Not necessarily to score but just to lead the team, to keep us level-headed the whole game. So, I take that responsibility very highly," said Clarin.
"And I know that even if I’m struggling, they have my back, so I gotta make sure I do that for them as well."
The DLSU Green Archers will have their last preliminaries against the NU Bulldogs on November 13, Wednesday, 2 p.m. at the UST Quadriennial Pavilion.
Meanwhile, the NU Lady Bulldogs will take on the Lady Green Archers on the same day at 12 noon.