Nigerian center commits to play for De La Salle
La Salle nabbed another blue-chip recruit as Benoit Mbala, the Nigerian center of Cebu champion Southwestern University, has committed to join the Green Archers men’s basketball roster but won’t see action in the UAAP until after a year of residency.
The 17-year-old Mbala caught the eye of Manila teams during the semifinals of the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) late last year where he churned in double-double numbers, highlighted by a single-game performance of 41 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks.
La Salle’s team management announced Mbala’s impending recruitment Thursday just weeks after securing the services of Visayas high school hotshot Kib Montalbo.
Montalbo, a 16-year-old guard from St. John’s Institute in Bacolod City, once scored 51 points in a game and was also named in the Top 10 of the Junior NBA Philippines selection two years ago.
