The UST Golden Spikers counted on their self confidence as they once again erased an opponents’ twice-to-beat advantage in the UAAP Final Four.
Josh Ybañez sizzled for the UST Golden Spikers as they denied the NU Bulldogs an outright Finals berth, forcing their Final Four series into a winner-take-all match after winning the initial game in four sets, 26-24, 27-25, 19-25, 25-18, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Saturday.
The UST dynamo fired off 22 points to go along with 16 excellent receptions, powering the Golden Spikers to another unlikely victory against higher-ranked opponents.
For UST, this will be the second year in a row that the Golden Spikers managed to erase a twice-to-beat disadvantage. Last season, UST eliminated the FEU Tamaraws in two games despite entering the Final Four in fourth place.
When asked about how UST goes through do-or-die games with such finesse, the two-time MVP said that it was a matter of the mind — and that each and every opponent they face can always be beaten if approached with the right game plan.
Taking away lessons from their final elimination round loss against NU, Ybañez and co. were all in the best state of the season to keep themselves in the running for a third-straight Finals appearance.
“Actually, we have one word to describe that. Belief. Believe. Maniwala [lang kami]. Ang NU is a powerful and strong team, but, we know na beatable sila. Tao lang din sila, they commit mistakes, they are human,” Ybañez said of their mindset.
“Kami din. Inisip lang namin, pinaniwalaan lang namin yung sarili namin, kumakapit kami sa isa’t isa and sa coaches,” he added.
Ybañez made sure to show off his MVP calibre, especially in the extended set 2 where the wing spiker soared for back-to-back points to claim a commanding 2-0 lead after a tight 27-25 win.
He was also the one to provide the finishing point in set 4 with a down the line hit to seal the victory in a lopsided set for UST, 25-18.
Meanwhile, the first two sets were comeback victories for the España-based squad who had to play catch up earlier in the frame.
Ybañez was able to power UST thanks also to the support of a rekindled fight in Gboy De Vega, as well as much-needed scoring from Player of the Game Jay Rack De La Noche.
De Vega, in particular, supported Ybañez’ bid in set 2, and finished the match with 14 markers. De La Noche, for his part, added 15 points.
The troika’s scoring gave UST its first victory over the Bulldogs since the second round of UAAP Season 86. They were swept in two games in the Finals last year by NU.
Meanwhile, defending champion NU was caught on the back foot apart from a dominant set 3 performance. The Bulldogs were buoyed by skipper Leo Aringo with 18 points.
The four-time defending champions were missing the services of star hitter Buds Buddin, who suffered a right ankle sprain and did not see action the whole game.
Both teams run it back in the winner-take-all rubber match on Wednesday, May 7, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.