By JONAS TERRADO
Former La Salle star Ben Mbala recalled the time he almost suited up as an emergency import for Magnolia in Nov. 2018.
It was during that year’s PBA Governors’ Cup semifinals that the Hotshots nearly tapped the services of Mbala after import Romeo Travis was listed doubtful to suit up in Game 4 of their series with Barangay Ginebra San Miguel due to an injured hamstring.
“The one who called me was my coach when I was in Team B,” Mbala said during the episode of The Prospects Pod co-hosted by NLEX star Kiefer Ravena.
That coach was Magnolia assistant Juno Sauler, who was still handling the Green Archers while Mbala was serving a two-year residency period following his transfer from Cebu’s Southwestern University in 2014.
Mbala was vacationing in Manila after his pro stint in South Korea ended at the time of the Magnolia-Ginebra series when he picked up a call from Sauler.
“He called me, we spoke, because I was in vacation after Korea (and) I was just chilling here,” he said. “I went to the PBA office, I do all the paperwork, they took my height and everything.”
But the possibility of Mbala suiting up didn’t materialize as Travis was given the go-signal to suit up before a packed crowd at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
It turned out to be the defining game of Travis’ PBA career as he dropped 50 points to give the Hotshots a 112-108 win that ended Ginebra’s two-year reign in the season-ending conference.
“It didn’t go through because my situation was depending on how Romeo would feel,” said Mbala. “For me, I don’t mind trying to be helpful but I just don’t want to sign if I don’t know even if I’m going to play or not.
He later added: “I can’t just be on standby and be in the Philippines not knowing what’s going on. And then Romeo was feeling better and you know what I’m happy for you guys and I just went home.”
Magnolia would later beat Alaska in six games to claim the Governors’ Cup crown while Mbala continued his pro career in France and Korea.
