Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
LA SALLE made it look like a no-contest early as the Green Archers dumped fierce rival Ateneo, 98-66, to stretch its perfect run to five games in the Filoil Flying V Premier Cup Sunday at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
Behind the aggressive plays of Ben Mbala, the Archers erected a double-digit edge right in the opening minutes, 16-6, and zoomed past the Eagles by 21 in the second quarter, 42-21.
Mbala already posted a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds in the first half—highlighted by several putback slams—before the Cameroonian center finished with a day-high 28 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks.
Jeron Teng also dropped 24 points in the Archers’ 32-point blowout win.
San Beda similarly rolled past reigning NCAA champion Letran, 84-70, in the other battle between two arch rivals.
JV Mocon sparked the Red Lions’ second-half breakaway to finish with 19 points, eight rebounds and five assists.
The Lions kept the second spot in Group B with a 4-1 record to join the Archers in the next round.
“We all know we lost the championship to Letran,” Mocon said of the Knights, who spoiled the Lions’ bid for a sixth straight NCAA championship last year. “So this is revenge and also a motivation for next season.”
The Eagles slipped to 3-2, while the Knights’ bid may be in peril at 2-4 .
Two other UAAP teams prevailed in earlier Group A matches.
National U tripped Emilio Aguinaldo College, 72-68, to advance to the next round with a 4-1 record behind idle Arellano (5-1).
Far Eastern University—which lost to graduation the core that powered the Tamaraws to the UAAP championship—kept its playoff hopes alive following a 64-55 dismantling of St. Benilde.
Prince Orizu and Richard Escoto dropped 12 points each to pace the Tamaraws, who improved to 3-3.
The scores:
LA SALLE 98—Mbala 28, Teng 24, Tratter 10, Torres 9, Montalbo 8, Melecio 8, Caracut 5, Rivero R. 4, Rivero P. 2, Gob 0, Go 0, Paraiso 0, Dyke 0, Langston 0, Muyang 0.
ATENEO 66—Ravena 10, Ikeh 10, Porter 8, Wong 8, Black 7, Nieto J. 6, Nieto M. 4, Tio 3, Allmond 3, Babilonia 2, Tolentino 2, Mendoza 2, Banzon 1, Go 0.
Quarters: 22-14, 51-35, 82-55, 98-66