MANILA, Philippines - Benoit Mbala exploded for 36 points as La Salle subdued Arellano U, 71-60, to share the Group A lead with two others in the 12th Fr. Martin Division 2 Cup basketball tournament at San Beda gym over the weekend.
Mbala proved unstoppable from the opening tip, powering his way past the Chiefs defenders, leading the Archers to the runaway victory and in a tie with the Perpetual Help Altas and the Technological Institute of the Philippines-A Engineers.
Gab Reyes added 10 points and Yanqui Haruna chipped in eight markers for the Green Archers, who stormed to a 35-21 halftime lead and never looked back.
In junior play, Adamson and Far Eastern U fashioned out big wins to wrest the early lead in their respective brackets in the tournament backed by Bauerfeind sports support products.
EJ Agbong tallied 12 points while Steve Flores and Jayson Celis scored 10 markers apiece as the Baby Falcons crushed the Emilio Aguinaldo College-ICA Brigadiers, 93-41.
The tournament drew 40 school teams, including 25 in the premier senior division, according to commissioner Robert de la Rosa.