New position, no problem for two-time UAAP men’s volleyball MVP Josh Ybañez.
Last Monday, the official 14-man lineup of the Alas Pilipinas for the 2024 AVC Challenge Chup men’s division was announced.
The two-time UAAP MVP and Season 86 Best Outside Hitter Josh Ybañez takes on the new role of being a libero.
While the netizens expressed their doubts about Josh’s new position, he reassured them that embracing the position of a libero is nothing new to him.
“‘Di naman siguro sa akin sobrang hirap na binalik ako sa libero kasi ‘yun naman talaga ‘yung original na position ko,” he said to One Sports.
He also answered the netizens who voiced their concerns for him.
“May mga nababasa din kasi ako [sa social media]. Tanggapin na natin kasi super high level of competition itong sasalihan namin. Sobrang deserve naman ng spikers, and ako, original position ko rin naman talaga is libero,” explained Josh.
He also said earlier to One Sports that he will work out the adjustments he will encounter as a libero.
“Ayun lang, may mga adjustments din, of course, kasi nga spiker ako ng UAAP and mga previous tournaments ko. Ayun, nag-aaral naman ako pero tatrabahuhin ko naman sa ensayo,” he said.
While we would probably miss his explosive back-row attacks, we can’t wait to see Josh grow in the defense line.
“‘Wag na kayong sad, guys. Super happy ako and super excited ako na maglaro as a libero,” Josh added.
The Alas Pilipinas men's team will begin their quest in the 2024 AVC Cup Challenge at Isa Town in Bahrain from June 2–9, 2024.
ALSO READ: AVC: Two-time UAAP MVP Josh Ybañez embraces the role of libero for Alas Pilipinas
Watch the full interviews here: