YUKIEN Andrada will be back and play out his final year for San Beda as he bids for another shot at the NCAA men’s basketball championship.
Long-time Red Lions team manager Jude Roque confirmed to SPIN.ph Andrada’s decision after he and the coaching staff led by Yuri Escueta held talks with the 6-foot-5 power forward and brother of former PBA player Yutien Andrada.
“Yes, he will be back for his final year. He feels maganda ang chance ng team for another run at the championship,” said Roque. “And hindi rin kasi naging maganda yung exit niya last season.”
The Red Lions fell short of defending their crown in Season 100 after losing to College of St. Benilde in the Final Four.
The Blazers were later swept by the Mapua Cardinals in the best-of-three finals, 2-0, to regain the championship after 33 years.
Andrada was one of the graduating players of San Beda along with Joshua Tagala, AJ Royo, and Emman Tagle.
But Andrada still has a year of eligibility and can enroll for a second major to be able to play for the 101th season of the country's Grand Old collegiate league.
Roque said Andrada can also apply for the PBA draft while at the same time play for the Red Lions in the same manner Pao Javillonar did with Letran after being picked by Converge in the second round of the Season 49 draft.
“Puwede naman yun tulad nung kay (Pao) Javillonar. At least malalaro pa niya yung last year niya with San Beda,” said the Red Lions official.
Javillonar applied for the PBA draft and was picked by Converge in the second round.
But he opted not to play the entire season-opening Governors' Cup as he played out his final year with the Letran Knights.
The NCAA is looking at moving back the opening of its new season to its regular schedule in June, while the PBA draft is set on September.
Yukien Ripe For The Pros
Escueta believes Andrada, a former Batang Gilas player, is already ripe for the pros.
“Si Yukien ready na sa PBA. Yung skill level and basketball IQ niya puwede na for the next level. And suwerte kung sino yung makakuha sa kanya,” said the San Beda coach, who is also part of the TNT coaching staff.
Escueta said given the chance, he’d want to have Andrada ended up with TNT.
“Sana makuha namin siya kahit early second round. Kapag available siya kukunin namin siya,” added Escueta.
“I’m sure si coach Norman (Black) din sa Meralco, kapag available siya (Andrada) kukunin niya yan,” added the San Beda mentor, referring to Black, who acts as consultant of the Red Lions.
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