Faces of the News: Ben Mbala

Illustration by Rene Elevera

A two-game absence from the UAAP—because of national team duties for Cameroon basketball—didn’t stop La Salle standout Ben Mbala from dominating the individual awards this season.

Mbala was hailed the Most Valuable Player of UAAP men’s basketball for the second straight year after putting up his usual monster numbers that obliterated his rivals for the trophy.

The 6’7” Cameroonian averaged 26 points, 13.08 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, 1.3 assists, and 1.3 steals to finish with 96.58 total statistical points (SPs).

How dominant was Mbala in the MVP race? His closest pursuer, Ateneo forward Thirdy Ravena, was way down at 66.50 SPs.

Not surprisingly, his latest hardware is not the trophy the 6’7”, 230-pound Mbala has his eyes on.

He wants a back-to-back UAAP basketball title for La Salle.