La Salle's Ben Mbala reveals he almost played for Ateneo

Did you know that the former De La Salle University (DLSU) big man Ben Mbala almost suited up for rival school Ateneo de Manila University?

"I told you, Ateneo was my first choice. I am going to be honest." Mbala said in an episode of Tiebreaker Vodcasts' "The Prospects Pod."

"Kiefer [Ravena] said lots of their bigs are graduating and I was looking for a team where I can have a lot of stability and get playing time," Mbala shared.

However, the big man who first played in the Philippines for Southwestern University in the Visayas ended up playing for the Taft-based squad after a call he received from former DLSU head coach Aldin Ayo.

"Coach Ayo, one day he called me to go to La Salle and I was like, 'What do you mean? I want to go to Ateneo,'" Mbala narrated.

"[He said] 'You go to La Salle, it’s going to be better for you because of the condition.' I know people there, I was just a young kid. At the end of the day, I feel like going over there with all those players kind of made me improve because when you go there, admission is tough, you can’t just lay and I am going to wait for my turn," the Cameroonian center said.

Mbala played from 2016 to 2017 with the Green Archers, making two finals appearances and winning the crown in his first playing year in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP). He was also named as Most Valuable Player in those two years.

The two-time MVP still had one more playing year in the UAAP but decided to forego it because of the uncertainty foreign student athletes were facing back then-- a dilemma he also had "when he was playing in Cebu.

"I would say my past, an easy answer – my past," Mbala answered when asked why he decided to skip his final playing year.

"I feel like It’s being put in the same situation again where some other people would decide my future, of what will happen. For the second time, I was like no, I’m not going to let that happen again. I would be the one to decide for my future not other people. So people from DLSU were telling me ‘You got to wait, there’s going to be a vote’ and I’m like, they can just reverse the rule over and over and over if they didn’t want me to play. That happened in the past and I’m just going to be out there sitting and letting them decide for myself," Mbala said.

Mbala said he passed up on offers to play as a professional abroad during that time but he decided to remain committed with the Green Archers.

"So it was a huge deal for me, and that was during the playoffs, I was like sorry, I’m not the type of guy who just ditch some people. I got to finish my season. So being over there and hearing all about the speculations if I’m going to play or not, they will vote and I was like no I can’t do this anymore," he added.

The former Taft tower also suited up for his country in the FIBA Afrobasket, and is grateful for DLSU for allowing him to play in the African regional during his collegiate stint.

"With all the Mayhem running, lifting, and today I was thankful for that. I was thankful to the African Cup. It helped me a lot and what else can I say? Thanks to La Salle for giving me the opportunity. When I look at the guys who missed out on that opportunity, well it would’ve been a different thing for them," Mbala said.

After his UAAP stint, Mbala played for different pro teams around the world such as Fuerza Regia in Mexico and Seoul Samsung Thunders in Korea. Right now, he is playing for the CSP Limoges in France. — LA, GMA News