Two MVP teammates part ways

MANILA, Philippines - UAAP finals MVP Jeron Teng and season MVP Ben Mbala played beautiful music together in leading La Salle to the senior men’s basketball championship this year but now, their paths will take different routes. Teng, 22, will join the PBA D-League draft on Dec. 20 preparatory to playing in the Aspirants Cup set to start on Jan. 19 while Mbala, 21, will focus on a second straight title for the Archers.

For a while, there was apprehension that the two superstars wouldn’t be able to jell because of their dominant presence on the floor. But under coach Aldin Ayo’s system, they learned to work with each other, realizing that the whole is always greater than the sum of its parts.

Their teamwork was no more evident than with 1:13 to go in Game 2 of the best-of-three finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last Wednesday, Teng slashed to the basket, drew Ateneo’s defense and passed back to a cutting Mbala for an easy layup down the middle. That pushed La Salle’s lead to six, 75-69, after Isaac Go had scored on an offensive rebound. Then, Mbala stole a sideline inbound pass to Thirdy Ravena, was fouled and made two free throws to ice it. Earlier, Mbala finished off a play when Teng missed on a drive and the Cameroonian grabbed the rebound to slam it in on a single motion. The pair combined for 11 of La Salle’s last 12 points as the Archers downed the Eagles, 79-72. Teng finished with 28 points on 12-of-20 field goals and 4-of-6 free throws, three rebounds and two assists. Mbala wound up with 18 points on 7-of-15 field goals and 4-of-7 foul shots, 10 rebounds, one assist, two steals and two blocked shots.

Teng started hot and scored 10 points in the first quarter. “I didn’t want a Game 3,” he said. “I wanted to end it that night, my last game for La Salle. The day before, we had practice at 9 in the morning and I went to pray at a Chinese temple before reporting. When I drove from the temple to the gym, I thought about my career ending at La Salle. I was alone in the car and started to cry. But when it was all over, I was surprised I didn’t cry. I did my crying the day before.”

An unsportsmanlike foul slapped on Go for kicking Teng while they were both on the ground grappling for possession proved to be critical, time down to 3:01. Mike Nieto had scored a three to trim the gap to four, 69-65 and Teng countered with a layup then came Go’s foul. Teng sank two free throws to stretch the lead to eight and La Salle got back possession because of the unsportsmanlike foul. “It was accidental,” said Teng. “Go didn’t mean to extend his foot. I wasn’t hurt.”

Teng said the play where he penetrated and passed back to Mbala was unrehearsed. “It was instinct,” he said. “We’ve practiced plays together but that one came spontaneously. When I drove in, I knew Ben would be behind me so I passed instead of going for the shot.” More than any of his 12 field goals in the game, Teng said he’ll remember that play as his biggest moment.

Mbala, the youngest in his family like Teng, said he gave it his all for La Salle because when he was down, the school had his back. “I owe the Lasallian community,” he said. “I messed up when I could’ve played last season. But La Salle didn’t abandon me. That’s why, I just smiled each time I got hit on the court. I was physically abused every game but I told myself to take it, that’s what coach Aldin told me. I did it for everyone who supported me when I was down.”

As for his biggest moment in the clincher, Mbala said it wasn’t the dunk off Teng’s miss or the layup off Teng’s pass. “I’ll never forget stealing the inbound pass to Thirdy,” he said. “We needed that stop to put it away. Then, Thirdy fouled me and I hit two free throws to bring our lead back to eight with less than a minute left.”

Mbala cried like a baby at the final buzzer, embracing everyone in sight. Throughout the season, Mbala was overcome with emotion. When he walked on the court to make his UAAP debut, Mbala cried. His mother Stephanie had flown in from Cameroon and was at courtside, also in tears, for the season opener. It was a struggle to survive the journey but in the end, Mbala made it to the top.

Last June, Mbala turned down an invitation to train with the Cameroon national team in China. When he was 16, Mbala was one of five Cameroonians picked to join the NBA U18 Basketball Without Borders camp in Johannesburg in 2011. He was the MVP in the camp graced by Pat Ewing, Dikembe Mutombo, Jeff Hornacek, Lionel Hollins, Monty Williams and Dee Brown. That unveiled his potential as a future Cameroon national player. But now, Mbala said he hopes to settle in the Philippines and if allowed, play for Gilas as a naturalized citizen.

“It will be difficult to repeat without Jeron,” said Mbala referring to his graduating teammate who once scored 104 points in a high school game for Xavier. “But with coach Aldin, whom I call Mr. Biceps, and everyone surrendering to his system, we can do it again.” Teng, Thomas Torres, Jason Perkins and Julian Sargent are leaving the Archers but next season, Andrew Langston and JBoy Gob will be back from a one-year sitout with new recruits Dodong Santillan from the University of the Visayas, Ramil Tero from St. Claire, Gabe Capacio from Letran and Josh Gonzales from UE, among others, waiting in the wings to hop onto the championship bandwagon.