Ben Mbala. Photo By Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
If you ask La Salle stalwart Ben Mbala, the Green Archers are still nowhere near their championship form from last season.
“Not yet,” said the UAAP’s reigning Most Valuable Player from Cameroon. “It’s still the first round and we are still making adjustments.”
The Green Archers hope to continue improving on Wednesday when they tangle with the struggling University of the East Warriors in UAAP Season 80 at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Adamson and University of the Philippines collide at 2 p.m. with both teams looking to break their tie at fourth spot—both squads own identical 3-2 records.
Flying under the radar for most of the season, the Falcons notched back-to-back victories to emerge as a strong Final Four bet.
But they will be facing a UP team raring to bounce back from a disappointing defeat to Far Eastern U last Saturday.
“It’s pretty scary because they played really bad (against FEU),” said Adamson coach Franz Pumaren. “I was watching them from the start. Knowing UP and the pride that they have… [t]hey will come out strong against us.”
La Salle has already scored 115 points twice this season, including in a win over National U where Mbala did not suit up.
“I feel like we are going to get better sooner or later,” said Mbala. “There’s always room for improvement and we got to keep working.”
The Warriors, meanwhile, are coming off a 79-60 beating by Adamson.