THE UST Golden Spikers are set to make their Spikers’ Turf comeback after getting an opportunity in the 2025 Invitational Conference.
UST secured its ticket in the tournament despite finishing third in the V-League Men’s Collegiate Challenge earlier this month, joining champions FEU Tamaraws.
This is after DLSU Green Spikers, who finished second in the preseason tilt, opted to skip the competition.
UST head coach Odjie Mamon said the team is determined to make the most of what he described as a “rare opportunity” to compete on the big stage.
“Our goal is to be among the four teams that will play in the semifinals… So I’ll really push my team to give their all because it’s a rare opportunity to be included in the semis pool,” Mamon said during the press conference of the Spikers’ Turf on Monday, Oct. 20, at Discovery Suites Hotel.
“There is the Kindai University from Japan and the one from Australia. So the boys and I will fight it out,” he added.
Mamon will bank on key players — Alas Pilipinas libero Josh Ybanez, setter Dux Yambao, open hitters GBoy De Vega and JJ Macam — to spearhead UST’s campaign.
Drawing from his stint as assistant coach for Alas Men’s in the FIVB World Championships, Mamon said he aims to integrate international lessons into the Golden Spikers’ system.
“There are a few key points that coaches and players observed at the World Championships, like the strong serves and receiving formations that we’re seeing for the first time,” he said.
“But the most striking thing is the out-of-system plays even when the ball gets off track, they can still attack aggressively.”
The Golden Spikers are scheduled to open their campaign against the PGJC-Navy Sea Lions on Wednesday, Oct. 29, at the Paco Arena.
UST will face six semi-professional squads in the elimination round: Alpha Insurance Protectors, Criss Cross King Crunchers, Cignal HD Spikers, PGJC-Navy Sea Lions, Savouge Aesthetics Spin Doctors and VNS Laticrete Griffins.
The top four finishers will advance to the semifinals, where they will square off against the two foreign guest teams. F
