GMA Brandtalk
Tracking
Archives
ADVERTISEMENT
Filtered By: Sports
Sports
UAAP: After DLSU's championship, Mbala looks forward to fortifying La Salle's frontline
Ben Mbala (L) fights for the ball against UST's Kim Lo in the PCCL Photo by KC Cruz
After Ben Mbala saw the DLSU Green Archers hoist the championship trophy against the UST Growling Tigers last Saturday, the 6'7" Cameroonian is now even more excited to fortify the La Salle frontline.
"It feels good, really great. We're champions," said Mbala. "When they started the season, they were down; they lost a couple of games. We didn't give up. I'm really happy for them."
The transferee from South Western University in Cebu made the big leap to Taft Avenue in January after wowing spectators in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League.
Upon transfer, Mbala immediately got to work in practice, challenging DLSU's big men in Norbert Torres and Arnold Van Opstal.
"I was practicing with them in the opening of the season and what coach Juno [Sauler] was asking me to do was give them tough defense so that during the UAAP season it's gonna be easier for them," Mbala shared.
Mbala will be a welcome addition in 2015, a year after a largely intact DLSU squad, plus the returning from an ACL injury Yutien Andrada, is expected to make a run at back-to-back titles. Come Season 78, Mbala could find himself manning the Archers' frontlines along with Arnold Van Opstal, should the latter play out a full five years.
The Cameroonian watched from the sidelines as DLSU climbed out of a 15-point hole in the third to take the title in overtime.
"They won because they wanted it. I saw them; they were practicing twice a day," Mbala recalled. "They didn't give up."
Mbala is not a stranger to UAAP play. He averaged 27 points, 10 rebounds and almost four blocks in his former team's games against Ateneo, San Beda, and Season 76 bridesmaids UST last December 2012.
Against a Karim Abdul-less UST squad, Mbala posted an impressive 41 points, 16 rebounds and four denials to defeat the Tigers in overtime.
"I just want to help the team. As much as possible, I wanna be present in both ends of the court: offensively and defensively," said Mbala."Everything is about the coach. He's the one who'll be using me so if he wants to use me as a big guy or a forward, it's up to him. It's all about the coaching staff."
As he awaits his turn, Mbala is now settling in to his life in Manila, taking minor subjects before getting into the Business Management program in DLSU.
"I really wanted to be on the court [last Saturday] but I have to be patient," Mbala said. "My time is coming." - AMD, GMA News
