YUKIEN Andrada is on a roll as far as his new-found stint with the men’s national team is concerned.
The Magnolia rookie is tapped as one of the practice players for the Gilas Pilipinas squad bound to defend the basketball gold in the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan.
Andrada is joined by fellow freshmen Geo Chiu and Sean Quetevis who were lent to the Gilas pool to help prepare the team in its gold retention bid in the quadrennial showcase.
READ: Geo Chiu, RR Pogoy, Cjay Perez added to Gilas pool for FIBA qualifiers
“Practice players lang naman kasi nga kulang ng players yung pool,” said a Gilas Pilipinas insider.
The lack of players in the pool came about as Jason Perkins and Jordan Heading both begged off for personal reasons, while the others included in the list are still practicing with the other Gilas squad preparing for the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers.
Nonetheless, Andrada’s new role with the seniors squad came just shortly after making it to the 3x3 Gilas men’s pool.
The San Beda product and younger brother of former PBA player Yutien Andrada recently competed as part of the Caloocan squad which saw action in the FIBA 3x3 Singapore Challenger.
Joining Andrada in the team were fellow Magnolia players Javi Gomez De Liano and Chris Koon along with Blackwater big man Abu Tratter.
The team made it to the knockout quarterfinals, but lost to Toulouse, France, 18-10.
Toulouse went on to win the title with a 21-12 win over Hangzhou Jingwei in the finale.
Nonetheless, Andrada and Co. highlighted their campaign with a 21-17 upset of world no. 5 Skyliners of Germany in the group stage.
Ryan Gregorio, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas 3x3 project director, said along with Andrada in the 3x3 pool are Koon, Tratter, Gomez De Liano, Ralph Cu, Jerrick Ahanmisi, Dominick Fajardo, and Robbie Herndon.
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