Expect a more aggressive and assertive Ben Mbala in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 80 finals.
Limited to just eight points in the 70-76 defeat to Ateneo in the championship series opener at Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday night, the reigning Most Valuable Player from La Salle center vowed a resounding comeback this Wednesday when the fierce rivals square off anew at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
While he acknowledged Ateneo’s defensive schemes, which held him to a career-low output in points and field goal attempts with seven shots, the 6-foot-7 Cameroonian insisted he could have played better.
“They played good defense,” said Mbala, who put up 28 points in La Salle’s second-round win over Ateneo. “I average 20 points per game but they held me to eight points.”
“Expect me to be more aggressive offensively [in Game 2]. They (Eagles) were able to get in to my head, that is something that shouldn’t happen again.”
The Eagles made the big run that gave them enough buffer to weather La Salle’s last rally when Mbala was on the bench nursing four fouls.
“It’s part of the game,” said Mbala. “We don’t want to look for excuses why we lost. They wanted it more than us.”
Chiz Ikeh and Isaac Go took turns in guarding Mbala, but the Eagles also clogged the paint each time the big Cameroonian attacked. With Mbala struggling, Aljun Melecio picked up the cudgels with 24 points. But La Salle’s guns fell silent in the last 2:35 of the game, allowing the Eagles to seal the win.
Mbala said they have no recourse but to play the game of their lives this Wednesday.
“Obviously if we lose the next game then it is over,” said Mbala. “We are not going to go out here just to have a mediocre game. We have to win or everything we’ve been doing throughout the season will just go to waste.”