DEFENDING champion De La Salle University (DLSU) guns for its fourth straight win when it takes on a vastly improved University of the Philippines (UP) in Season 80 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball action today at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The Green Archers are seeking to keep their hold of the league lead as they face the Fighting Maroons, who won two of their first three matches, at 4 p.m. Prior to this, Far Eastern University (FEU) and University of Santo Tomas try to come back in the win column when they collide at 2 p.m.
The Tamaraws, who are sporting a 1-2 win-loss card, seek payback from their 82-94 setback to Ateneo de Manila last week. The Growling Tigers hope to recover from their 0-3 start after felling short to National University, 84-94, last Wednesday.
All eyes are still on reigning Most Valuable Player Ben Mbala. Likewise, many anticipate the Green Archers battling Paul Desiderio and the Fighting Maroons.
Returning from a fruitful stint in the 2017 Fiba AfroBasket Cup Tunisia, Mbala, who who missed the first two UAAP games, made his strong presence felt in his season debut with 32 points, 10 rebounds, and four blocks to lead De La Salle to its third straight win after dismantling Adamson University, 85-73, last Wednesday.
But despite Mbala’s one-of-a-kind season debut, La Salle Head Coach Aldin Ayo is still seeking to address the flaws of his team particularly the immaturity and lack of execution he saw in their first three matches.
“It just shows that we’re still a young team. The immaturity is still there and the tendency to relax when we have a big lead,” Ayo said. “But it’s a good thing that every time they commit those mistakes, the players are acknowledging their mistakes. But we still have to work on that.”
Despite the flaws to work on, Ayo is somehow happy now that his team is complete with Mbala joining Aljun Melecio, Ricci and Prince Rivero, Kib Montalbo, Abu Tratter, Santi Santillan and Andrei Caracut as they continue their road to their title-retention bid.
The Fighting Maroons, on the other hand, are up to the challenge on facing another undefeated team. They suffered a sorry 71-92 lost to the other league leader Ateneo de Manila two weeks ago but bounced back with a 84-71 win over Universityy of the East last week behind Paul Desiderio’s career-high 28 points.
“I think it’s really tough, but we’ll take our chances against a team like La Salle,” said UP Head Coach Bo Perasol, who banks not only on Desiderio but also with his Mali big man Ibrahim Quattara, who will try to neutralize Mbala, as well as Noah Webb, Jun Manzo, Javi and Juan Gomez de Liano.
Image credits: Stephanie Tumampos