WITH the last NCAA Season 101 finals spot up for grabs, San Beda and St. Benilde needed to bring all the artillery they had to edge out each other on Sunday’s extended game three match.
As it turns out, the Red Lions didn’t need to reach too deep into their bag.
Their graduating skipper, Yuki Andrada, had plenty of ammo in the chamber, unloading a career-high 27 points to clinch the 84-81 victory over the Allen Liwag-led Blazers.
Andrada looked equally graceful and lethal, finding all the perfect spots and remaining on hall-of-fame heat retention en route to his seven much-needed three-pointers.
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With Benilde nursing a five-point 59-64 lead heading into the fourth quarter, the six-foot-five swingman kicked his scoring into higher gear, swishing three triples and two clutch free throws that sealed their finals spot and detoured the Blazers to the battle for third.
After the game, his sniping masterclass earned awe-inspired reactions from San Beda pillars head coach Yuri Escueta and Janti Miller.
“I really challenge them na this is a game of character for us. What we are made of and what do we have inside of us. And they showed heart. Starting off flat, medyo may jitters, medyo stiff. Pero, there's one guy na ayaw magpatalo. Si Yuki. Wala akong masabi,” Escueta said.
“He played his ass off today. We needed that from him all season. When the game mattered and the game was close, Yuki came to save us,” added Miller, who flanked Andrada with 26 points and six boards of his own.
For Andrada though, aside from getting back at Benilde who eliminated them the season prior, he also took pleasure in battling his former teammates Tony Ynot, Gab Cometa, and Justine Sanchez, who he played with even as a Red Cub.
“Siguro just the enjoyment of being able to compete with my former teammates. I don’t want this to be my last game of my college career and I will do my best to win it no matter what.”
Back to the big stage
Now that San Beda is back in the finals, Andrada isn’t planning on taking his foot off the gas in the slightest.
Though he already has his future after Mendiola secured being drafted by Magnolia, the sting of losing in the semifinals the year before still lingers for the Malolos, Bulacan native.
“Of course it was very important, especially na ang sama nung exit last season. Advancing to the finals means that we get to have a chance again to regain the crown.”
With championship redemption the only reason he took up his final year, Andrada is getting ready to deliver one last show for the Red Lions community.
And with their opponents being arch-rival Letran, they’re gonna need a hell of a show from Andrada, to say the least.
“That’s the main reason why I stayed another season, is to get the championship back to Mendiola. I want to deliver on that promise before I move up to the pros.”
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