Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Coaching the deepest team in the league in La Salle, head coach Aldin Ayo has a lot of options in terms of who he wants to play on the floor.
During the Green Archers’ rout of University of Santo Tomas, Ayo fielded in a towering five of Ben Mbala, Abu Tratter, Jason Perkins, Mark Dyke, and Julian Sargent for the first time this season.
“We’ve been thinking about it for a while, but for coach Aldin to put us all in there shows the versatility our coach gives us. No limits,” said Tratter.
“Coach likes to try out new things,” said Mbala, who anchored the five on the floor that flaunted La Salle’s depth in a 99-56 whipping of the Growling Tigers Sunday. “I think that was just a way for him to check if the five of us could jell and run the plays.”
The result of the five-man unit hardly mattered, with the game already decided as early as the first half.
Showing grit like the champions they aspire themselves to be, the Green Archers picked themselves up from the Growling Tigers’ 10-5 start and proceeded to manhandle their foes, establishing a 45-23 halftime lead and extending the advantage to as high as 46, 93-47, late in the game.
The 43-point blowout, the most lopsided win this season, is also a perfect example of the Archers’ dominance this year, that even with its opponents’ best punches, it will still find a way to rise through adversity.
Mbala topped the Green Archers 21 points, 15 rebounds, and five blocks, while Jeron Teng got 16 markers, four boards, and three assists.
La Salle secured a twice-to-beat advantage and is poised to sweep its remaining games in the elimination round with University of the East, Ateneo, and Far Eastern University left in its UAAP Season 79 schedule.
But more scary for the field is the untapped potential Ayo hasn’t discovered in his deep roster. Ayo and his coaching staff are still looking for other weapons on its already loaded arsenal.
“Gusto naming ipakita yung pwede pang gawin ng team na ito. Yung unpredictability na gusto ni coach, dapat palaging nandyan,” said assistant coach Louie Gonzales, as Ayo refused to face the media after the rout.