ANDRADA STEERS SAN BEDA TO NCAA FINALS
8 December 2025
YUKIEN Andrada showed up big 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 relied on Andrada’s hot hands en route to an 84-81 victory over the Blazers, earning their ticket to the NCAA Finals against longtime rivals 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 player. Throughout the season, 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 crucial shots that kept the Blazers at bay.
When Benilde held a slim three-point lead midway through the fourth quarter, it was Andrada who tied the game at 72-all with a clutch triple at the 6:33 mark of the payoff period.
The 2025 PBA Draft’s sixth overall pick also delivered the dagger into the Blazers’ hearts in the 3:23 mark of the fourth quarter when he sank another long bomb to put San Beda up, 81-77.
Alongside Andrada, the returning Agjanti Miller also contributed significantly, finishing with 26 points, six rebounds, and two steals. He missed Game 2 of the semis due to a knee contusion. Bryan Sajonia also played his part for the Red Lions, with 10 points, six rebounds, and three assists.
Tony Ynot scored 18 points along with five rebounds and four assists, but it was not enough for the Blazers. Raffy Celis, Ian Torres, and Josh Cajucom also chipped in with 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 shifts his focus to the Southeast Asian Games with Gilas Pilipinas.
San Beda will face Letran in a best-of-three Finals series for the first time since 2019. Game 1 will be held 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
ST. 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
