La Salle’s gentle-hearted big man Mike Phillips dedicated his team’s latest win to a person who became his rock in times of adversity.
Mike Phillips was visibly emotional as he entered the press room following La Salle’s 88-67 victory over UST on Sunday – far from his usual upbeat demeanor when called for post-game press conferences after a Green Archer win.
But as the press conference went on, it became clear that “Motor Mike” was playing with a heavy heart, holding back tears as he and coach Topex Robinson entertained questions from the media about their performance against the Tigers.
‘God brought us together’
Mike Phillips was reeling from the loss of Doleo Susalta, a security guard assigned to La Salle’s dormitory for their student-athletes. According to him, Susalta passed away around two nights before the UST game, or last September 27 due to unknown causes.
“I just want to dedicate this game to Doleo Susalta…he was someone who took care of us, he was a part of our Lasallian family and he just recently passed. He passed two nights ago,” an emotional Phillips said following his 12-point and 18-rebound double double against UST.
“And last [Saturday] night, I was in a dark place, and I saw the most beautiful sunset after training…I knew it was him. So if you guys have any spare time, can you just please pray for his family? I think it was his spirit…I was playing for him tonight.”
Working on graveyard shifts, Susalta was a guard who went the extra mile in caring for his student-athletes on top of protecting them. From constant check-ups, to being available for late-night talks, Susalta was someone they could lean on when their baggages became too hard to carry.
“He would always check in on us and I would talk to him to hours at night. He would teach me Ilonggo and we would sing Dandansoy [Bisaya folk song] and everything,” Phillips recalled as he held back tears. “He just recently passed out of nowhere, but he was one of my closest friends I met here ever since I first came here in the Philippines. Yeah…he’s one of my closest people, Doleo Susalta.”
Most importantly, Susalta arrived during a dark time in Mike Phillips’ life, and became his ray of hope during that period of adversity.
“Because when I was really in a dark place before, I don’t know…but God just kinda brought us together, and he was always open. The thing about it is he had to stay awake the whole night and constantly check in and make sure everybody’s safe,” said Phillips, who left his native Florida to play for La Salle in 2020.
“And he would always never turn a blind eye on me, never turn his back to me. He would always listen to anything I had and I learned so much from him…about what it means to be a Christian here. And he really taught a lot, he was so open to me about his family, his two kids and they just recently started college in UP.”
Support system
But in this time of grieving, Mike Phillips knows he has his teammates to lean on. Likewise, it’s what kept him and the team afloat as they went through a pair of tough games ahead of the Growling Tigers.
La Salle suffered its first loss of Season 87 against the UE Red Warriors last September 22. Two days later, they were nearly upset by the rookie-laden FEU Tamaraws before securing a narrow victory.
“No matter how hard it really gets. When people are no longer here, stay true to what we have here. When it gets to those times, when we don’t feel like waking up, when we don’t feel like going to practice… You kind of look around and just be grateful,” he reflected.
“So when I came here today, I just tried my best to see what I’m grateful for. And it’s everybody, it’s all you guys here. It’s all the crowd, it’s like a movie to me, you know? Everyday, it’s a blessing to wake up because you never know when it’s your last day.”
Motor Mike believes he is blessed with a support system that gives him hope even in the darkest of times.
“It’s just, you know? God put me here. And I really feel at peace when I’m here. And so, if you guys are in that dark place, just call out to God like I did. And He’’ll work through your teammates you know? He’ll work through your schoolmates, your family…And especially through Coach Topex here,” Phillips said.
Banner image courtesy of the UAAP Media Bureau.