MANILA, Philippines – Benoit Mbala finished with 36 points for the La Salle Green Archers, who subdued the Arellano University Chiefs, 71-60, Saturday in the 12th Fr. Martin Division 2 Cup basketball tournament at the St. Placid gymnasium of the San Beda College campus in Mendiola, Manila.
Mbala struck with seven points in the first period, including a free throw in the last 39 seconds, giving the Green Archers a 21-9 lead after 10 minutes.
The Green Archers went on to post their first triumph in this cagefest supported by Bauerfeind sports support products. They share the early Group A lead with the University of Perpetual Help Altas and the Technological Institute of the Philippines-A Engineers.
Gab Reyes provided 10 points and Yanqui Haruna hit eight markers for the Green Archers, who enjoyed a 35-21 halftime advantage.
In the junior division, the Adamson Baby Falcons and the Far Eastern University Baby Tamaraws eked out big wins to grab the early lead in their respective brackets.
EJ Agbong tallied 12 points while Steve Flores and Jayson Celis chipped in 10 apiece for the Adamson Baby Falcons in their 93-41 crushing of the Emilio Aguinaldo College-ICA Brigadiers.
A total of 40 school teams have joined, with 25 senior squads listed in the senior division, while there is a16-team roster in the junior division, according to commissioner Robert de la Rosa.