Reigning UAAP Most Valuable Player Ben Mbala is currently in Tunisia, as he was named to the roster of the Cameroon Men’s Basketball team that is set to play in the 2017 Afrobasket. But he might miss more games for defending champions De La Salle University Green Archers.
With the continental meet set from September 8-16, the 23-year-old will miss La Salle’s tilt against the Far Eastern University Tamaraws on Sunday, September 10, and against the National University Bulldogs on Saturday, September 16.
However, Cameroon also qualified for the 2019 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers-Africa. Cameroon is currently slated to face Guinea on November 25 and Tunisia on November 26. This is usually the time when the Final Four of the UAAP rolls around.
It is still not known whether La Salle will allow Mbala, who averaged 20.6 points, 16.0 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks last season, to suit-up for the WCQ. But still, the institution is proud that one of their student-athletes gets to play at the highest level of basketball.
“Parang looking back at former players, even yung remember yung magaling na foreign player ng San Beda, I don’t think they had the privilege to play for their national team,” shared DLSU Office of Sports Development director Emmanuel Calanog, referring to Arnaud Noah, who was also part of the pool. “We’re happy that Ben has developed into a player which their country feels can help them in their international competitions.
“Just like our local players, ‘di ba, ang hope natin is because of the UAAP, they are able to develop well enough for them to play for the country.”
