Yukien Andrada showed up big time when San Beda needed him the most in Game 3 of the NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball semifinals against the College of St. Benilde at Araneta Coliseum on Sunday.
The Red Lions banked heavily on Andrada’s hot hands en route to an 84-81 win over the Blazers to punch their ticket to the NCAA Finals against longtime rival Letran.
Coach Yuri Escueta kept his game plan simple – give the ball to his graduating forward.
“[I want to] give credit to CSB for making their shots but I really just trusted one guy and that’s Yukien Andrada,” Escueta said.
“Yuki is very unselfish. He’s a very unselfish guy. All season long, he allowed his teammates to feel their shots but when the lights are brighter, he’s ready to step up.”
Andrada finished with 27 points and four rebounds including the heavy ones that kept the Blazers at bay.
When Benilde held a slim three-point advantage midway through the fourth quarter, it was Andrada who tied the game at 72-all with a triple at the 6:33 mark of the payoff period.
The 2025 PBA Draft’s sixth overall pick also pushed the dagger into the Blazers’ hearts in the 3:23 mark of the fourth when he sank another long bomb to put San Beda up, 81-77.
Aside from Andrada, the returning Agjanti Miller also finished with 26 points, six rebounds and two steals. He missed Game 2 of the semis due to a knee contusion. Bryan Sajonia also did his thing for the Red Lions with 10 markers, six boards and three assists.
Tony Ynot scored 18 points alongside five rebounds and four assists but to no avail for the Blazers. Raffy Celis, Ian Torres and Josh Cajucom also scattered 14, 12 and 10 points, respectively but to no avail.
Reigning NCAA MVP Allen Liwag recorded 10 points and eight rebounds in a losing effort. He now turns his attention to the Southeast Asian Games with Gilas Pilipinas.
San Beda will meet Letran in a best-of-three Finals series for the first time since 2019. Game 1 takes place at Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday.
The scores:
SAN BEDA 84 – Andrada 27, Miller 26, Sajonia 10, Gonzales 7, Puno 6, Celzo 4, Lina 4, Reyes 0, Etulle 0, Estacio 0, Songcuya 0
- BENILDE 81 – Ynot 18, Celis 14, Torres 12, Liwag 10, Cajucom 10, Ancheta 7, Umali 6, Sanchez 4, Morales 0, Gaspay 0, Cometa 0
Quarter scores: 21-26, 34-45, 59-64, 84-81.
