Romwel Anzures

Adamson University head coach Nash Racela and De La Salle University’s Mike Phillips in a heated encounter during their UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball. Photo from UAAP Media.

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<div style="line-height:1.5"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1763547368453UAAP88 MBB - -4701.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Adamson University head coach Nash Racela and De La Salle University’s Mike Phillips in a heated encounter during their UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball. Photo from UAAP Media."/>Adamson University head coach Nash Racela and De La Salle University’s Mike Phillips in a heated encounter during their UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball. Photo from UAAP Media.MANILA — Adamson University and De La Salle University’s UAAP Season 88 clash already had high stakes, but raising the heat further was the encounter between Nash Racela and Mike Phillips.</div>At the 45.5-second mark of the third period, Racela and Phillips exchanged words after Emman Anabo’s flagrant foul on Vhoris Marasigan.The Soaring Falcons head coach said that his reaction came after Phillips offered him some words, which is why he eventually asked Green Archers mentor Topex Robinson to check on his forward.“Sinabihan ako ni Phillips: ‘Tumahimik ka muna, coach.’ I was really surprised because he talks a lot about God, then all of a sudden, lumabas ‘yun sa bibig niya,” claimed Racela.“But I understand. That’s a spur-of-the-moment thing. ‘Yung emotions niya siguro ‘yun. Maybe he felt that’s what they needed to get the victory. I don’t know if he was wrong or not during that time, pero if ever he was, I’m sure he will realize that. He has his Lord to ask forgiveness from, ‘di ba?”“Lahat naman tayo pinapatawad ng Panginoon kapag nagkakamali tayo,” added Racela.However, Phillips refuted what Racela said.“Every story has two sides of the coin. I just want to clarify that — I can say with all honesty — I never said that: ‘Tumahimik ka muna coach.’ I wouldn’t say that so someone I respect like coach Nash,” he said.“I wouldn’t even say that to my own coach. I’m sure that it’s just a spur-of-the-moment thing. Maybe it was my body language or anything that he misread. But I have a lot of respect for him, nothing malicious against him,” he added.Phillips also shared why he reacted defensively.“I didn’t really hear anything from the crowd. What I only saw was how our player was on the ground, with him saying: ‘Hindi ako maka-hinga,’” said Phillips, referring to Marasigan.”“So I was really worried about him and had flashbacks to when Kean [Baclaan] and Mason [Amos] fell and were on the ground. I just tried to be there for him and clear the area,” he added.La Salle had lost Baclaan and Amos to injuries earlier in the season.While it is still inconclusive what transpired between Racela and Phillips, what is certain is that Adamson escaped La Salle, 61-60, to stay alive in the Final 4 hunt.<div style="line-height:1.5"><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/11/19/uaap-adamson-escapes-la-salle-to-stay-in-final-4-hunt-1626">READ: Adamson escapes La Salle to stay in Final 4 hunt</a></div>

Adamson and La Salle's UAAP Season 88 clash already had high stakes, but raising the heat further was the encounter between Nash Racela and Mike Phillips.

Adamson and La Salle's UAAP Season 88 clash already had high stakes, but raising the heat further was the encounter between Nash Racela and Mike Phillips.

UAAP: What happened during heated exchange between Racela and Phillips?

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UAAP: What happened during heated exchange between Racela and Phillips?

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 19, 2025 06:26 PM PHT

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Basketball

UAAP

ABSSports

ABSNews

UAAP Season 88

UAAP Basketball

De La Salle Green Archers

Adamson Soaring Falcons

Nash Racela

Mike Phillips

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