(PBA image)
Every PBA debut carries its own weight, but for Yukien Andrada, his first game in the Season 50 Philippine Cup came with an added layer of meaning that made the moment even more memorable.
The Magnolia forward wasn’t just stepping onto the professional stage for the first time. He was doing it alongside someone he had only ever known from the sidelines — his coach, LA Tenorio, who suited up and shared the floor with him in Sunday’s elimination-round finale against TNT at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“I was really happy playing with coach LA,” Andrada said after Magnolia absorbed a 94–83 loss. “Having a coach play with me — that was a first-time experience. I just tried to enjoy every second of it.”
Andrada made the most of the opportunity, showing little trace of rookie nerves as he opened his PBA career with 12 points and nine rebounds, flirting with a double-double in his first outing. While his shooting struggled — converting just three of his 14 attempts — his energy and willingness to battle inside stood out.
Tenorio’s confidence in the young forward was evident, keeping Andrada on the floor for 24 minutes despite the cold shooting night — a clear vote of trust that the rookie took to heart.
Beyond the numbers, Andrada understood the bigger picture. With the eliminations coming to a close, the focus now shifts squarely to the playoffs.
“I just enjoyed the moment,” he said. “But we know our goal. We have to stay focused on getting to the semifinals and, hopefully, the championship.”
The debut also capped a whirlwind stretch for Andrada, who is fresh off an NCAA title run with San Beda, helping the Red Lions sweep Letran to capture the Season 101 crown. From collegiate champion to PBA rookie sharing the floor with his coach, Andrada’s journey into the pros began not just with statistics, but with a story he won’t soon forget.