‘Big Ben’ asserts might

Ben Mbala. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

La Salle may have lost its first match this season to fierce rival Ateneo, but it still has the UAAP’s top player in Cameroonian Ben Mbala, who looks poised to repeat as the league’s Most Valuable Player.

Mbala ended the first round as the runaway leader of the MVP race with 98.0 statistical points after averaging 30.4 points, 11.8 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1.2 steals in five games.

The Archers, though, are just 3-2 with Mbala in the lineup after their 75-76 loss to the Blue Eagles on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena, capping a roller coaster first-round campaign.

But more than individual glory, Mbala knows the Archers have their work cut out for them in their bid for back-to-back titles.

“We still have a lot of time to work on our game, our team chemistry especially on defense,” said Mbala, who missed the first two games of the season as he represented Cameroon in the Fiba Afrobasket won by Tunisia.

Instrumental in Ateneo’s unbeaten start this season, forward Thirdy Ravena is a far second to Mbala after picking up 66.0 SPs.

Ravena, younger brother of former UAAP MVP Kiefer Ravena, averaged 14.9 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists.

Other top performers are Adamson center Papi Sarr (65.17 SPs), NU guard J-Jay Alejandro (62.71 SPs) and UE’s Alvin Pasaol (61.0 SPs).