The UST Golden Spikers notched just their first win in UAAP Season 87 with star hitter Josh Ybañez playing.
UST dynamo Josh Ybañez was delighted to finally notch his first win in UAAP Season 87 as the Golden Spikers eked out a 4-set victory over the gritty DLSU Green Spikers in their second round encounter, 25-22, 25-22, 16-25, 25-22, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Saturday.
Despite the Golden Spikers’ 5-4 slate in Season 87, UST hadn’t won with Ybañez in the lineup before the victory over La Salle.
That is, during the games where Ybañez was out of commission for the España squad, they were undefeated in four games. Meanwhile, when he played, they were on the losing end, 0-4, including their season opener against FEU where the spiker got hurt.
But with the breakthrough win this weekend, Ybañez proved that he wasn’t at all “cursed”.
“Yes, [feeling ko] siguro pinaparusahan ako pero hindi. Lagi [lang] akong sinasabihan, sobrang na-touch ako lalo sa coaches, kay Coach Odjie [Mamon], na no, that’s not the reason,” said Ybañez after the game.
“Alam ko nafi-feel niya ['yung nararamdaman ko]. Dinamayan niya lang ako. Mas tinataasan niya lang yung tiwala niya sakin,” he added, referring to Mamon.
Against La Salle, it was a breakthrough win for the third year spiker, with 21 points built off of 15 attacks and six aces. He also had 16 excellent receptions.
Ybañez admitted to having doubts, but he shifted his focus on what he can do in the next games for the Golden Spikers, who will be hard pressed to catch up with the rest of the field to enter the Final Four in the tightly contested tournament.
“Of course, 'di naman maiiwasan yun. But, 'yung mga doubt na 'yun, andun lang siya. Parang mas nag-focus ako sa kung ano yung mga bagay na makakapag-move forward ako dun and ma-overcome ko 'yung mdoubts,” he said.
Ybañez also credited his teammates’ trust to be able to get back into the fold as fast as he did.
Now that he’s back in his top form, Ybañez believes it’s only up from here.
“I'm super, super grateful talaga. Narealize ko na din yan, na sobrang grabe yung tiwala ng coaches sa akin. Kasi kahit alam nila this past two games, na hindi talaga ako 100% gumalaw, sinalang nila ako at sinalang. And ayun lang, sobrang happy ako na andun pa rin talaga yung tiwala,” he said.
“Of course, super motivated ako ngayon. Kasing nanalo kami and andun yung momentum. Sa amin nila lang is, the consistency and how we keep that momentum na mataas, ayun din. Mataas yung moral namin.” he added.
Ybañez hopes to continue on the upward trend for UST when they return to action on Wednesday, April 2, when they face the Adamson Soaring Falcons at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.