After an agonizing two year stay in residency limbo, Cameroonian student-athlete Ben Mbala showed during the 2016 Premier Cup why the La Salle faithful showed patience in him.
Mbala helped lead the De La Salle University Green Archers to an unbeaten run in the finals, never being threatened in a single game. Moreover, he filled up the stat sheets in averaging 21.9 points, 15.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.5 steals, and 2.4 blocks to bag the 2016 Premier Cup Most Valuable Player crown and, as well as, the Defensive Player of the Tournament plum.
Joining Mbala in the mythical team for the tournament are fellow La Salle teammates Jeron Teng and revelation Abu Tratter. The former Xavier Stallion tallied 20.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.2 steals while Tratter, who has grown accustomed to Aldin Ayo’s system, posted norms of 9.8 points and 6.7 rebounds for the Green Archers.
All-Philippine point guard Jio Jalalon and his fellow Cagayan de Oro compatriot Kent Salado closed out the All-Premier Cup team. The Gilas Cadet, in just the few games he played in the tournament, scored an average of 19.7 points, grabbed 3.8 rebounds, dished out 4.3 dimes, and stole the ball 1.4 times per game. His Conductor, Salado, stepped up during Jalalon’s stint with the national team in posting 11.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.6 steals to cement the duo’s place as the best backcourt in collegiate basketball today.
The Green Archers and the Chiefs are figuring in a winner-take-all finals for the Premier Cup as of publishing.
