[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’Expect a different La Salle in Game 2 – Ben Mbala ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
[/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
MANILA – With its back against the wall, De La Salle Green Archers is expected to come out swinging to keep its title-retention bid alive in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 80 men’s basketball finals on Wednesday.
A “different” Green Archers will show up in Game 2 as it aims to prevent Ateneo Blue Eagles from wrapping up the best-of-three title series, De La Salle star Ben Mbala said.
“We are not just gonna go out there for a regular or mediocre game. We will go out and try to win the game,” Mbala said. “Without it, we’re going to be out. Everything we’ve been doing the whole season will go to waste.”
The Cameroonian import added: “Ateneo played a better game than us. They were able to score down the stretch, and made good stops, contrary to us. We didn’t really run our plays and stick to the game plan.”
Mbala was himself anemic in their 70-76 Game 1 defeat after being held to his career-low 8 points to go along with 12 rebounds.
“Obviously, if we lost the next game, it’s over for us,” he said. “So I will make sure that I will lead the team in bouncing back against Ateneo so we can force a do-or-die game.”
It was a back-and-forth action for both teams in Game 1, with Blue Eagles leading by as much as 12 points in the first half, but Green Archers rallied back and had a taste of the lead in the third quarter.
Ateneo managed to pull away again early in the fourth. De La Salle kept the game close for the last time at 71-70 before Blue Eagles unloaded a 5-0 run behind Thirdy Ravena and Isaac Go to snatch the victory.
If ever the defending champion succeeds in leveling the championship series on Wednesday, the do-or-die Game 3 will be held on Dec. 3 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City./PN
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
