Two-time MVP Josh Ybañez took matters into his own hands, leading the UST Golden Spikers in a gutsy comeback against the Ateneo Blue Eagles in UAAP Season 88 men’s volleyball play.
Josh Ybañez fired 29 big points as the University of Santo Tomas outlasted Ateneo de Manila University in a thriller, 19-25, 26-24, 21-25, 26-24, 15-11, for their second straight win in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Men’s Volleyball Tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday.
The two-time league MVP willed the Golden Spikers to victory in the fourth and fifth sets, completing their come-from-behind win after two hours and 16 minutes of intense action.
“The instruction I gave after we lost the opening set was dahan dahan lang, regain their confidence,” said UST head coach Odjie Mamon. “Hindi ko pinabayaan si Macam na mawala talaga ‘yung confidence niya, I kept him on and off the court to regain that.”
With both teams exchanging points midway through the fifth set, the Golden Spikers pulled away from a 9-8 tie with three straight conversions from Ybañez, JJ Macam, and Dux Yambao to take a four-point lead, 12-8.
Tied at 24 in the fourth, Ybañez delivered a powerful attack from the pipe to give UST a set point, before an attack error by Jian Salarzon sent the match to a decisive fifth set.
Ybañez finished with 29 points—27 attacks and two aces—while also showing his defensive skills with 19-of-27 receptions.
Macam added 12 points, while rookie Joncriz Ayco, the Season 86 High School Boys’ MVP, contributed nine points in the win.
Yambao orchestrated 24 excellent sets and added three points through two blocks and an attack.
The Golden Spikers committed 30 errors compared to the Blue Eagles’ 39.
UST, now 2-1 and tied with National University for second place, will aim for a third straight win on Saturday at their home court, the Quadricentennial Pavilion, against the University of the East.
Nigerian outside hitter Aimar Okeke led Ateneo with 26 points and 10 excellent receptions.
Salarzon added 17 points, 17 excellent receptions, and 10 excellent digs, while Amil Pacinio and Brian Castro contributed 13 and 11 points, respectively.
Ateneo slipped to 1-2, joining the Red Warriors and the Adamson Soaring Falcons from fifth to seventh place.
The Blue Eagles will look to bounce back on Sunday against De La Salle University at the same venue.