UST ends La Salle’s four-game streak behind Ybañez’s birthday heroics

University of Santo Tomas snapped De La Salle University’s four-game winning streak, 25-18, 30-28, 25-23, to return to the win column in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Men’s Volleyball Tournament on Wednesday morning at the SMART Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

Eager to bounce back from a two-game skid, the Golden Spikers rediscovered their winning form, leaning on the firepower of two-time UAAP MVP Josh Ybañez, Al-Bukharie Sali, and JJ Macam to halt the Green Spikers’ surge of four straight wins after opening Season 88 at 0-4.

Ybañez delivered 23 points on his 23rd birthday, built on 16 attacks, four blocks, and three aces, along with nine excellent receptions and four excellent digs. With the win, UST solidified its hold on solo third place with a 6-3 record, while La Salle slipped out of the top four, dropping to fifth at 4-5.

“Throughout his career, talagang yung tiwala ko naman kay Josh, nandiyan. Converted siya to libero bago pa siya bumalik sa puwesto niya, kaya may tiwala kami sa kanya. I can say para rin kay Sali na yung reintegration niya sa team, it’s been good kahit hindi pa ganon kataas yung percentage na gusto namin,” Golden Spikers head coach Odjie Mamon said on the Alas Pilipinas standout.

After conceding a tightly contested second set, La Salle appeared poised to extend the match, as consecutive hits from Eugene Gloria, Cameroonian middle blocker Issa Ousseini, and Yoyong Mendoza gave the Green Spikers a 17-14 advantage in the third.

However, the Golden Spikers found timely relief from off-the-bench sparkplug Gboy de Vega, who scored four points in a crucial 7-3 run that allowed UST to regain a slim 21-20 lead.

Both teams traded points until the 23-all deadlock, but UST ultimately sealed the contest in one hour and 33 minutes after Rui Ventura committed a costly net touch violation, followed by Ybañez’s game-winning ace.

"Kung matangkad sila, iniisip ko na lang na mas malaki ako at yung puso ko ay maglaro. Tinapangan ko talaga kahit anong mangyari. Sabi ko kay Dux [Yambao], kahit anong mangyari, itaas mo lang, papaluin ko lang nang mahaba, hindi ma-solid block 'yan," Ybanez said.

In his first start of Season 88, Sali showed signs of steady integration into the system, finishing with 10 points on nine attacks and one block. Macam added eight points, along with nine excellent receptions and two excellent digs.

Trevor Valera also contributed eight points built on four attacks, three blocks, and one ace, while De Vega and Joncriz Ayco chipped in five and four points, respectively.

Team captain and Season 87 Best Setter Dux Yambao orchestrated the offense with 13 excellent sets, while sophomore libero Edriel Alabar anchored the defense with 13 excellent digs and 13 excellent receptions.

UST will look to sustain its momentum when it faces league-leading Far Eastern University, which is coming off a five-set loss to six-peat-seeking National University, on Sunday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.

Meanwhile, Gloria led the Green Spikers in the loss with 16 points, 13 excellent receptions, and four excellent digs, while Chris Hernandez turned in an all-around performance with 10 points, 15 excellent receptions, and 11 excellent digs.

Ousseini was limited to seven points, while rookie setter NJ Bangit dished out 16 excellent sets.

In his first game back from an MCL injury sustained in the first round, Win Retiro tallied three excellent digs and three excellent receptions.

La Salle aims to bounce back against the University of the Philippines on the same day at QPav.