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| Ben Mbala returned with a bang on a career game as La Salle held off Adamson |
PASAY -- Defending champions La Salle have made its title retention intentions loud and clear, surviving a late Adamson scare to scrape a win to remain unbeaten in the UAAP Men's basketball tournament.
After nearly blowing a 24-point lead in the first half, the Green Archers withstand a late charge by the Falcons to go 3-0 to their season.
The return of Ben Mbala from Cameroon duty have made Mayhem even more scarier as he put up monster numbers in the first half alone, putting 21 of his UAAP career high 32 points.
A back-breaking 17-0 run in the opening quarter led by Mbala, Prince Rivero and Abu Tratter have put an end to Adamson's resistance, putting them up 36-12 at the end of the first.
La Salle continued its rout in the second quarter, outshooting them by 26% from the field to go up by 22 heading into the break.
However, Adamson made an uprising in the third, outscoring La Salle by 13 to reduce the deficit to 70-61 Green Archers heading into the payoff period.
But the reigning UAAP MVP went to work in the payoff period breaking his own UAAP career high with a three point play attempt.
The Scores
La Salle 85 – Mbala 32, Santillan 10, Tratter 9, Rivero P 8, Rivero R 6, Motalbo 5, Caracut 5, Go 3, Baltazar 3, Melecio 2, Gonzales 2
Adamson 73 – Manalang 16, Sarr 12, Ahanmisi 10, Pingoy 9, Manganti 8, Bernardo 8, Hill 6, Ochea 3, Lojera 1
Quarter scores: 36-12, 55-33, 70-61, 85-73
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