Van Opstal to play final year with Mbala likely ineligible – source

Naveen Ganglani

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De La Salle University big man Arnold Van Opstal will play out his final year of eligibility before turning pro after Ben Mbala's eligibility was compromised

Arnold Van Opstal will return for another year with the Green Archers. Photo by Josh Albelda

MANILA, Philippines – With prized DLSU Green Archers recruit Ben Mbala unlikely to see action in the 2015 UAAP men’s basketball season, De La Salle University big man Arnold Van Opstal will play out his final year of eligibility before turning pro. 

In a conversation with Rappler on Sunday, March 22, a source said that Van Opstal had initial plans to declare for the 2015 PBA Draft, but with an off-court incident putting Mbala’s playing eligibility at risk, the big man decided to return to the Green Archers after having a talk with DLSU management.

“That’s what he first said, following the steps of Roi Sumang,” said the source, who requested for anonymity. “But I think they (management) were able to talk to him.” 

Sumang, the star point guard of the UE Red Warriors, said following his team’s UAAP 2014 campaign that he would return for his final playing year in 2015. But just this past week, multiple reports surfaced indicating that Sumang has decided to turn pro.

“Management has talked to AVO about this,” the source added. “It seems, up to today, it’s okay with him [to play his last year].” 

Van Opstal, who suited up for Hapee Toothpaste in the 2015 PBA D-League Aspirants Cup, averaged 7.9 points and 5.9 rebounds a game for the Green Archers in Season 77, where they were unable to retain their championship after falling to the FEU Tamaraws in the Final Four round. 

During his UAAP Most Improved Player of the Year campaign in 2013, Van Opstal averaged 9.4 points and 6.7 rebounds a contest and has since been regarded as an expected top pick in the PBA Draft once he decides to turn pro. 

The source told Rappler that Van Opstal’s current plan to return wasn’t made only because of the expected absence of Mbala, but also due to his relationship with the university.

“These are players who care for the school,” the source said about the big man and the rest of the Green Archers, which lost 6-foot-6 center Norbert Torres to graduation after last season.

The loss of Torres was supposed to be remedied by the addition of Mbala, a Cameroonian slotman, who sat out two years due to residency rules after opting to transfer from Cebu-based Southwestern University to DLSU.  

Unfortunately for the Green Archers, Mbala was caught participating in an exhibition game in General Santos City a few months back, which is a violation of the UAAP’s rules for players serving residency.  

(READ: Recruitment of foreign players in UAAP to stop beginning next year)

Mbala’s mistake puts his playing eligibility up for debate within the UAAP Board, who will discuss and vote on whether or not he gets to play in 2015 assuming La Salle includes his name when they submit the Final roster for the Green Archers in Season 78.

However, the source indicated that, right now, La Salle doesn’t plan on including their prized recruit’s name, saying “DLSU will not even give the UAAP the pleasure of rejecting Mbala.” 

“They will not even include him [in the roster],” he said.

“Of course, there’s no really official word from UAAP if they will allow him or not. That will only happen if we submit the eligibility.”

The source says that though Mbala was apologetic when he discussed his participation in the exhibition game with management, the team still currently plans on sitting him out due to the league’s law. 

“Even if it was just an exhibition, a rule is a rule,” the source said. “La Salle believes in rules.”

Mbala is expected to remain with the Green Archers and play his first of remaining two seasons in 2016. 

“Anybody with the right information should know that when you are completing your residency, you are not allowed to play in any tournament.” 

Rappler.com

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