Calvin Oftana praises fellow San Beda alum Yukien Andrada after TNT-Magnolia clash

The PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals offered more than a ticket to the semifinals—it became a quiet passing-of-the-torch moment between two San Beda products on opposite ends of their pro journeys.

Calvin Oftana may have led TNT Tropang 5G past Magnolia, 118-109, but when the final buzzer sounded, the veteran forward’s attention shifted to a familiar shade of red on the other bench. Across from him stood Yukien Andrada, a fellow Bedista navigating the opening chapters of his PBA career.

For Oftana, the result mattered. TNT’s win sealed a straight trip to the best-of-seven semifinals. Yet the performance of Magnolia’s rookie forward, suiting up for only his second PBA game, left a stronger impression.

“Magaling na bata, malakas ang loob,” Oftana said of Andrada, the No. 6 overall pick in the Season 50 draft.

“Hats off sa kanya. Andun yung composure niya sa laro.”

OKBET is Asia’s most trusted and popular online sports gaming platform. Visit us on OKBET to stay up to date with all sports news from around the world.

LION HEART

PBA rookie Yukien Andrada steps up big time with back-to-back triples in Magnolia’s crucial game against TNT in the fourth quarter of the Philippine Cup!#PBA50 #PBA50LID pic.twitter.com/uHps7PAjkE

— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) December 27, 2025

Thrown into the deep end against a seasoned TNT squad, Andrada showed little hesitation. He finished with 13 points and five rebounds, punctuated by three triples that forced TNT’s defense to stay honest. Through his first two games—both losses to the Tropang 5G—the Magnolia newcomer averaged 12.5 points and 7.0 rebounds, numbers that hinted at readiness beyond his experience.

Andrada’s arrival to the Hotshots came late in the All-Filipino Cup, following the conclusion of his collegiate run with San Beda. He helped the Red Lions secure their second NCAA men’s basketball title in three years, sweeping Letran in the Season 101 Finals—a championship pedigree that didn’t go unnoticed.

Oftana, himself a former NCAA champion, zeroed in on Andrada’s biggest weapon.

“Shooter din talaga. Kailangan ding depensahan,” he said. “Kapag libre tira, e. Hindi natatakot yung bata.”

While praising the rookie, Oftana made sure his own Bedan roots showed on the stat sheet. He poured in a team-high 25 points on an ultra-efficient 5-of-6 clip from three-point range and added five assists to steer TNT safely into the semifinals.

In the end, it was TNT moving forward—but for Oftana, the night also affirmed that another Red Lion is ready to carve his own place in the league.

Don’t miss out on the latest sports news, updates, and fan discussions!

  Follow our Facebook page Sports News PH today and be part of a growing community of passionate basketball fans!