By Jerome Lagunzad
That’s because the Cameroon big man has hooked up with Mexican pro club Fuerza Regia de Monterrey recently, putting an end to his decorated career in the country’s most prestigious collegiate league where he was named as two-time league MVP.
“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,” the 6-foot-7 Mbala, 22, said in a lengthy statement through his personal Twitter account (@benmbala) yesterday.
“I know my choice might come as a surprise to many, and I have to admit, the decision to leave was the toughest I have had to make after being with La Salle for so many years. But I feel that this decision is the best for the next stage of my career and development.”
The departure of Mbala, who could face a stern scrutiny from the UAAP Technical Committee with the re-activation of the “Seven Year Out of High School” rule next season, should be a big blow for La Salle which is aching to get back on top after falling prey to archrival Ateneo in the UAAP Season 80 finals.
The Green Archers won’t also have 6-foot-5 Fil-American Abu Tratter who has maximized his playing eligibility, leaving the likes of do-it-all forward Santi Santillan, lanky Justine Baltazar and hefty Prince Rivero to man the middle.
Perhaps the most dominant import to ever set foot in the country’s collegiate basketball scene, Mbala initially suited up for Southwestern University and turned heads when he scored 41 big points against fellow Cameroonian Karim Abdul and University of Santo Tomas in an off-season tourney in 2012.
He then transferred to La Salle the following year but violated the two-year residency rules when he saw action in an unsanctioned tourney in General Santos City, keeping him out of the UAAP action for another year.
Mbala finally made his UAAP league debut in 2016 and proved he’s worth the wait, powering La Salle to the crown – its ninth overall and its first since 2013 – behind a near flawless run capped by a two-game sweep of Ateneo in the finals.
So impressive was Mbala that he got the nod to suit up for his home country Cameroon in the 2017 AfroBasket for the first time in his career, keeping him out of the Green Archers’ first two matches in their title-retention bid.