DLSU’s Mbala barred for residency infraction

MANILA, Philippines - The UAAP board yesterday barred Cameroonian center Ben Mbala from suiting up for La Salle in the coming Season 78 basketball tourney for violating the league’s residency rule.

Convening in a meeting hosted by University of the Philippines, the board voted to declare Mbala, a transferee from Southwestern U in Cebu, “ineligible” for the competitions that begin Sept. 5 for having played in a league in General Santos City last January while undergoing residency with the Green Archers.

Mbala’s ineligibility added to the frontline woes of La Salle, which already lost slotman Arnold van Opstal who waived off his final playing year due to nagging injury.

“We believe we’ll still be competitive this season,” DLSU board representative Edwin Reyes told The STAR, adding Mbala should be able to play next season “if he does not violate additional residency rules.”

Former juniors ace Hubert Cani also didn’t get the go-signal to debut for Ateneo this season along with veteran Dan Alberto of University of the East.

According to sources, the board required Cani, a transferee from National U, to sit out one more season in compliance with the two-year requirement, which was still in effect when he started his residency period. Cani transferred before Congress passed the Student-Athlete Protection measure, which prohibited the controversial residency requirements, last June.

Alberto, for his part, already “maxed out his eligibility years.”

Meanwhile, Jerie Pingoy, who red-shirted for two years after moving out of FEU, finally got the okay to play for Ateneo this season.