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UAAP: Ben Mbala leaves La Salle -- 'toughest decision I've made'

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<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/news/11/13/111317_mbala.jpg"/><figcaption>Ben Mbala. <em>Arvin Lim, ABS-CBN Sports</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA - Two-time UAAP MVP Ben Mbala, who led La Salle to the 2016 championship, has officially announced he is leaving the Green Archers.</p><p>&quot;After five years of . . . countless unforgettable moments, it is with a heavy heart that I announce that the time has come for me to move on from De La Salle University and the Green Archers,&quot; Mbala said in a statement he released on Instagram Friday, where he also thanked the school and his supporters.</p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bc-9vxuAJs-/" data-instgrm-version="8" style="background:#FFF;border:0;border-radius:3px;box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);margin:1px;max-width:658px;padding:0;width:calc(100% - 2px)"><div style="padding:8px"><div style="background:#F8F8F8;line-height:0;margin-top:40px;padding:50.0% 0;text-align:center;width:100%"><div style="background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC);display:block;height:44px;margin:0 auto -44px;position:relative;top:-22px;width:44px"> </div></div><div style="margin:8px 0 0 0;padding:0 4px"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bc-9vxuAJs-/" style="color:#000;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:17px;text-decoration:none;word-wrap:break-word" target="_blank">After five years, two incredible UAAP seasons, numerous off season tournaments, and of course, countless unforgettable memories, it is with a heavy heart that I announce that the time has come for me to move on from De La Salle University and the Green Archers. I want to publicly thank boss ECJ, the managers, Coach Aldin and the rest of the coaching staff, and my teammates for all of the incredulous opportunities that I have been given during my time there. You all have made my time in the Philippines truly worthwhile. I also want to thank the entire Lasallian community and the fans, thank you for your never ending support. I know my choice might come as a surprise to many, and I have to admit, the decision to leave was the toughest I have had to make after being with La Salle for so many years, but I feel that this decision is best for the next stage in my career and development. I am truly grateful for having had the opportunity to represent the Green Archers and will always be Lasallian at heart. 💚</a></div><p style="color:#c9c8cd;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:17px;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:8px;overflow:hidden;padding:8px 0 7px;text-align:center;text-overflow:ellipsis;white-space:nowrap">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/benmbala/" style="color:#c9c8cd;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:17px" target="_blank"> Ben Mbala</a> (@benmbala) on <time dateTime="2017-12-22T00:07:45+00:00" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:17px">Dec 21, 2017 at 4:07pm PST</time></p></div></blockquote><div><script async="" defer="" src="https://platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>&quot;I know my choice might come as a surprise to many and I have to admit the decision to leave was the toughest I have had to make after being with La Salle for so many years, but I feel that this decision is best for the next stage in my career and development.&quot;</p><p>Mbala is set to play for the Fuerza Regia club in Mexico&#x27;s top-flight basketball league, Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/uaap/news/2017/12/22/ben-mbala-leaves-dlsu-tapped-reinforcement-mexico-35104">READ: Mbala leaves La Salle, tapped as reinforcement in Mexico</a></li></ul><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bc5gyqbA5ow/" data-instgrm-version="8" style="background:#FFF;border:0;border-radius:3px;box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);margin:1px;max-width:658px;padding:0;width:calc(100% - 2px)"><div style="padding:8px"><div style="background:#F8F8F8;line-height:0;margin-top:40px;padding:30.0% 0;text-align:center;width:100%"><div style="background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC);display:block;height:44px;margin:0 auto -44px;position:relative;top:-22px;width:44px"> </div></div><p style="color:#c9c8cd;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:17px;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:8px;overflow:hidden;padding:8px 0 7px;text-align:center;text-overflow:ellipsis;white-space:nowrap"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bc5gyqbA5ow/" style="color:#c9c8cd;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:17px;text-decoration:none" target="_blank">A post shared by Fuerza Regia (@fuerzaregia)</a> on <time dateTime="2017-12-19T21:18:32+00:00" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:17px">Dec 19, 2017 at 1:18pm PST</time></p></div></blockquote><div><script async="" defer="" src="https://platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bc-vpOCgmQT/" data-instgrm-version="8" style="background:#FFF;border:0;border-radius:3px;box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);margin:1px;max-width:658px;padding:0;width:calc(100% - 2px)"><div style="padding:8px"><div style="background:#F8F8F8;line-height:0;margin-top:40px;padding:50.0% 0;text-align:center;width:100%"><div style="background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC);display:block;height:44px;margin:0 auto -44px;position:relative;top:-22px;width:44px"> </div></div><p style="color:#c9c8cd;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:17px;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:8px;overflow:hidden;padding:8px 0 7px;text-align:center;text-overflow:ellipsis;white-space:nowrap"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bc-vpOCgmQT/" style="color:#c9c8cd;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:17px;text-decoration:none" target="_blank">A post shared by Fuerza Regia (@fuerzaregia)</a> on <time dateTime="2017-12-21T22:04:31+00:00" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:17px">Dec 21, 2017 at 2:04pm PST</time></p></div></blockquote><div><script async="" defer="" src="https://platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>Until he came along, the UAAP hadn&#x27;t seen a player as physically gifted and talented as the 6-foot-8 Cameroonian center, and he put those tools to good use in his time at Taft.</p><p>As the Green Archers&#x27; centerpiece, Mbala led his team to a 16-1 overall record in the 2016 season en route to the title.</p><p>This season, La Salle finished 14-4 but lost its crown to rival Ateneo.</p><p>Statistically, no one came close to the numbers he posted when he played in the UAAP.</p><p>He averaged 20.6 points, 16 rebounds and 2.4 blocks in 2016, then returned more polished offensively and stronger, posting per-game numbers of 26 points, 13 rebounds and 2.5 blocks.</p><p>In two MVP races, Mbala was the runaway winner.</p><div><em>For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/" target="_blank">ABS-CBN Sports</a> website.</em></div>

<p>Two-time UAAP MVP Ben Mbala, who led La Salle to the 2016 championship, has officially announced he is leaving the Green Archers.</p>

Two-time UAAP MVP Ben Mbala, who led La Salle to the 2016 championship, has officially announced he is leaving the Green Archers.