MANILA, Philippines – The Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles have been the best team in the UAAP so far in the Season 80 tournament, compiling a spotless 6-0 record while playing entertaining basketball on both ends of the floor.

De La Salle University center Ben Mbala won't deny that their archrivals have greatly improved since their showdown in the finals last year, but stressed that the Green Archers will be prepared for the Blue Eagles for their first meeting this season.

The defending champions Green Archers and the Blue Eagles clash on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena, with the top spot at the end of the first round at stake.

"They're an improved team," Mbala conceded on Wednesday, after torching University of the East for a career-high 39 points on 10-of-12 shooting from the field. "They play better than last year, and they have the best record at 6-0."

"They'll come prepared," he added.

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Mbala has faith that the La Salle coaching staff will not fail them, especially in such a big game.

"I believe in my teammates, and I know the coaching staff will be able to come up with a great game plan for us to be able to compete against them," he said confidently.

Ateneo and La Salle are ranked first and second, respectively, in offense, while the Blue Eagles also have the league's second-best defense.

But Mbala subscribes to that old notion that when it comes to the biggest rivalry in the UAAP, it's time to throw away the stats.

"I'll just give you a sentence," he said. "Ateneo against La Salle, it means everything."

"We're not going out there to be friends or anything," Mbala vowed. "We know what's at stake, and it's blue against green. No matter what happens, when we step on the court, it's war."

"I don't need to stay anything about Ateneo vs. La Salle. It's blue vs. green, and that says it all."

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