Before the year ends, the Green Archers will be giving us glimpse of the future.
A month after their failed title defense in the UAAP, the Green Archers start their bid for a back-to-back in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League with a 97-92 win over Jose Rizal University in Tanauan, Batangas.
Beefed up by several players groomed to join the team in next year’s UAAP wars, La Salle weathered a late run by the Heavy Bombers to advance to the next stage of the tournament.
The game saw the highly-anticipated La Salle debut of Cameroonian Ben Mbala, who had to do residency for two years after transferring from Southwestern University in Cebu.
And right on the get-go, Mbala immediately gave everyone a preview of things to come as he scored 5 quick points including a two-handed follow-up dunk. He finished with 9 points and 14 boards.
Other newcomers that were included in the tournament roster were Joshua Torralba, Daryl Pascual and Larry Muyang.
Torralba, a Fil-Am guard who played one season of local college ball with EAC back in 2011 also top scored for the team with 9 points.
Jeron Teng and Robert Bolick each scored 8 points for La Salle, who will be missing several key players in the tournament.
Not included in the line-up for personal reasons are Julian Sargent, Jason Perkins and Arnold Van Opstal. Though they are listed, seniors Almond Vosotros and Norbert Torres did not play due to commitments with their PBA D-League teams.
The Green Archers will be facing CEU tomorrow in another KO match with the winner advancing to the Elite 8 phase.