Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
WITH the way they dominated the Filoil Flying V Premier Cup, the La Salle Green Archers quickly installed themselves as the heavy favorite heading into UAAP Season 79.
The scary thing for the rest of the UAAP is the fact that the Archers, who went on to post a 10-game sweep of the preseason tournament, feel they can still get better when the season opens in September.
“We still have our lapses,” said La Salle coach Aldin Ayo, who was plucked out of Letran after leading the Knights to the NCAA title last season using a vaunted full-court press. “We’re going to work on that. Whatever we achieved in the preseason, we will not be satisfied.”
Led by Most Valuable Player Ben Mbala, who had 28 points, 26 rebounds and eight blocks when the Archers overpowered the Arellano Chiefs, 86-74, in the finals of the Filoil tournament last Sunday.
But Ayo feels they can still polish their execution on both ends of the floor.
“We’re still going to continue improving, continue working hard, because this is just preparation and our priority of course is our mother league which is the UAAP,” said Ayo.
More than the system that the Archers are seeking to perfect, there seems to be no formula on how to stop the hulking Mbala, the best defensive player of the tournament.