FROM one NCAA champion to another. From one Bedista to another.
Calvin Oftana was left impressed with Yukien Andrada after seeing the rookie forward of Magnolia up close and personal for the first time during the PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals match between the Hotshots and TNT Tropang 5G.
Although the Tropang 5G disposed the Hotshots, 118-109, to advance outright in the best-of-seven semifinals, the 29-year-old Oftana has nothing but good words for his fellow San Beda alumnus, who was playing in only his second PBA game.
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“Magaling na bata, malakas ang loob,” said Oftana of the No. 6 overall pick by Magnolia in the Season 50 draft.
“Hats off sa kanya. Andun yung composure niya sa laro.”
Andrada finished with 13 points and five rebounds, spiked by three baskets from three-point range.
In the first two games he played with the Hotshots – both losses against TNT – he averaged 12.5 points and 7.0 rebounds.
The younger brother of former PBA player Yutien Andrada just joined Magnolia late in the all-Filipino Cup elimination as he finished off his collegiate career with the Red Lions, who won their second NCAA men’s basketball championship in the last three years by completing a two-game sweep of Letran in the Season 101 finals.
Oftana admires Andrada’s shooting prowess.
“Shooter din talaga. Kailangan ding depensahan,” he said. "Kapag libre tira, e. Hindi natatakot yung bata.”
Oftana also showed his Red Lion pedigree as he finished with a team-high 25 points on 5-of-6 shooting from 3s, while adding five assists in the semis-clinching win.
Like Andrada, Oftana also won NCAA championships with the red and white as part of their three-peat team from 2016-2018 and was the MVP of Season 95.
He also emerged as first round pick in the 2020 draft (No.3 overall) by NLEX.
Despite Andrada’s short stint in the first conference, Oftana believes sky’s the limit for the Magnolia rookie.
“Sana dalhin niya pa sa mga next games niya, sa next conference,” he said. “But I’m just happy na may bago na namang Bedista na naglalaro sa PBA.”
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