Mbala tops UAAP MVP race after 1st round

La Salle’s Ben Mbala. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Ben Mbala is showing that he was worth the wait.

After sitting out for two years, the Cameroonian giant finally got his chance to delivering La Salle, topping the UAAP Season 79 statistical points race for the Most Valuable Player plum at the end of the first round.

Mbala leads the league in scoring (20.1 points per game) and blocks (2.1 blocks), while also running second in boards (16.3 rebounds), to pace the race at 95.29 SPs.

He has been a vital cog in the Green Archers’ unblemished run as they ran roughshod over the competition in the first seven games of the season.

Adamson big man Papi Sarr is at distant second with 71.43 SPs, leading the rebounding department with 16.6 rebounds, on top of his average of 13.3 points and 1.1 blocks per outing.

The Soaring Falcons have surprised the field, finishing the round at 4-3, finding themselves at a three-way logjam at third with Ateneo and National U.

Rounding out the top five are La Salle captain Jeron Teng (56.3 SPs), FEU bruiser Raymar Jose (54.0 SPs), and UP scorer Paul Desiderio (53.86 SPs).

Completing the list are Adamson rookie Jerrick Ahanmisi (51.86 SPs), NU shooter Matt Salem (51.29 SPs), Bulldogs center Alfred Aroga (51.14 SPs), and FEU banger Prince Orizu (48.57 SPs).

NU’s J-Jay Alejandro and Ateneo’s Thirdy Ravena are tied for 10th with an identical 46.57 SPs.

UST’s Louie Vigil sits at 13th with 44.86 SPs, while UE’s Bonbon Batiller is at 20th with 39.86 SPs.