After returning from injury and slowly finding his form, Yukien Andrada is suddenly going ballistic in NCAA Season 99 — all thanks to a missed triple late in the game against Mapua University.
In San Beda University's face-off against Mapua University last November 12, the Red Lions first established a 13-point lead against the Cardinals, only to squander it as Paolo Hernandez buried a clutch triple to give Mapua a 71-69 cushion with 14.2 seconds left.
With the possession back on their side, the Red Lions had a chance to manufacture a potential game-winning shot. However, Andrada missed his corner triple.
A product of San Beda high school program, Andrada admitted that ever since that shot, he worked doubly hard to gain his confidence back.
"Nakuha ko lang siguro ‘yung confidence ko sa Mapua game, even though we lost, kasi I still make those shots eh," Andrada said.
"Coming from that game, ayon tuloy-tuloy na ‘yung pagtira ko ng tres and malaki ‘yung tiwala na binibigay ng mga teammates ko eh."
(I probably got my confidence from that Mapua game even though we lost because I still make those shots. Coming from that game, my triples continued and my teammates trust me on that.)
Andrada finished with 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting from deep during that game but ever since then, he has shot 14 of his 27 triple attempts in a three-game stretch that saw him record career-high twice.
Against Benilde last November 15, Andrada put together a career-best 22 points on 4-of-10 three-point percentage while he tallied 18 markers behind four triples against JRU.
On Tuesday, he reset his career-high by unleashing 26 points against second seed Lyceum anchored on six three-pointers made.
For Andrada, his timely peak is a good sign for the Red Lions, who are eager to return to the Final Four and clinch a championship spot after seeing the school miss back-to-back finals appearances.
"No’ng Mapua game even though we lost parang doon kami mas lalong nag-stick together. Nakita namin na kahit we lost, the team is still intact and walang nag-dwell on that loss and ayon tuloy-tuloy na panalo namin," he added.
"It’s a big confidence kasi it’s a three-game stretch na I have been playing really well. That’s really good for me kasi I can spread those confidence around my teammates din."
(During the Mapua game, even though we lost, it was like the point where we started sticking together more. We saw that the team is still intact despite the loss and we did not dwell on that much. From then, the wins just came.)
Andrada and the rest of the crew will look to formally clinch a semis berth on Friday when it takes on Colegio de San Juan de Letran in a rivalry game.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
