CAMEROONIAN big man and two-time Most Valuable Player Ben Mbala will skip his final year with the La Salle Green Archers in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament.
Mbala has joined a Mexican professional team Fuerza Regia as an import.
He will be the team’s reinforcement for the second half of its season in the Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional.
The 22-year-old Mbala will be one of the two players, who won’t be back for La Salle in Season 81. The other one is Abu Tratter, who recently graduated.
“After 5 years and two incredible seasons, numerous off-seasons and course, countless memories, it is with a heavy heart that I announce that the time has come for me to move on from De La Salle University and the Green Archers,” said Mbala in his Twitter post at thekidfromcameroon.
Mbala went out of his way to thank team patron Eduardo Cojuangco Jr., coach Aldin Ayo and the coaching staff for the opportunities he was given.
The Green Archers won the Season 79 title with Mbala averaging 20.64 points and 16 rebounds.
In Season 80, the Green Archers lost the crown to the Ateneo Blue Eagles, with Mbala norming 14.2 points and 7.78 rebounds.
So far, a replacement for Mbala is now being readied
That could be New Zealand’s 6’8” Taane Samuel, who is reportedly being groomed to replace Mbala is Season 81.
Mbala’s departure came as the board of trustees of the UAAP gets ready to review the thorny issues concerning the league’s eligibility rules, some which were suspended following the implementation of the K12 policy.
During the two-year period spanning Seasons 79 and 80, the board suspended the seven-year period that allows athletes to have seven years of eligibility in the league.
In that period, the school league adjusted to the introduction of the senior high school program and the new grade school system.
The board will discuss if the ruling will be restored, or if new rules will be introduced.