AS THE team undergoes another transition period, every Golden Spiker is aware of the need to rise to the occasion this season.
Key losses this offseason, including two-time UAAP beach volleyball MVP Alche Gupiteo, Season 85 Best Opposite Spiker Jay Rack de la Noche and Season 87 Best Middle Blocker Popoy Colinares, have left a huge void in UST’s lineup.
With this in mind, team captain Dux Yambao expressed hope that every player would deliver and contribute to the Golden Spikers’ goal to return to title contention in Season 88.
“Lahat dapat mag-step up… Dapat, wala kaming inaasahan. Kung sino man yung pipiliin ng coaches, ‘yun dapat yung mag-perform,” Yambao told The Flame.
(“Everyone needs to step up… We shouldn’t be relying on anyone in particular. Whoever the coaches choose, they should be the ones to perform.”)
Head coach Odjie Mamon, who has led the men’s squad since 2015, is confident that UST’s recruitment has enabled players to transition smoothly into the team, fill gaps and maintain the system.
“The level of competency is not really affected because there are players (who will) step up,” Mamon said.
The season hasn’t even started yet, but UST already took a hit after opposite hitter Al-Bukharie Sali was ruled out for one to three months because of a hand injury. He was invited to play for Alas Pilipinas last year — joining his teammate, star spiker Josh Ybañez — and was instrumental in UST’s bronze medal run in the 2025 V-League Collegiate Conference.
According to Mamon, other players, including the returning Sherwin Umandal and rookies, will get their chances to shine in Sali’s absence.
“One of the innovations this year is [there will be] 16 players to play, so [Sali] sitting out for a few months won’t be that big of a factor,” the head coach said.
Mamon said the team has been working to perfect the system to avoid a repeat of last season, when errors plagued the team in the final stretches of the match.
Crucial miscues haunted the Golden Spikers last season as they bowed out of contention at the hands of the defending champions NU Bulldogs in Game 2 of the semifinals in straight sets, 25-23, 25-23, 25-23. The España squad settled for bronze.
Moving past its previous heartbreaks, the team is setting its sights on regaining poise, as it kicks off its campaign against the Bulldogs on Feb. 15, Sunday, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
“[In the] first match, we will test our system, the integrity and mastery of the players. That will also dictate for the whole year and season,” Mamon said.
Leading by example
Last season, the Golden Spikers finished off the elimination round with a 9–5 win-loss record.
This year, the then-newbies that once steered the Golden Spikers back to the podium in Season 85 will look to lead the team to another finals appearance — and their hopes to bag the title after two silver and a bronze-medal finish in the past seasons.
In his fourth year as the team captain, Yambao took it upon himself to lead by example.
“Every year is a new opportunity,” the reigning UAAP Best Setter said.
“I always remind them to persevere because that’s how we’ll win. We need to work hard every day, then, maybe, we’ll get the championship this season.”
Yambao shared the weight of leadership with two-time UAAP MVP Ybañez and Gboy de Vega in what could be their final dance in the league.
Ybañez, who bagged the Best Libero plum during his Alas Pilipinas stint last year, has now learned to embrace the pressure that came with his exposure from high-level international tournaments and his decorated three-year experience in the UAAP.
De Vega’s focus remained on the preparations they made for the upcoming season and on how best he could be of help to his teammates.
“I want that someday, when I sit at a round table and our legacy is being talked about, I can say that I left at least one championship here — or maybe even two, if I’m lucky,” the open hitter said.
While the seniors have learned to temper their emotions, de Vega drew on his all-around experience as he taught the younger players to manage their nerves throughout the season, especially in crucial games.
“I tell them that pressure can be very good for [them] because if they overcome it, then they can lighten up and get back to their rhythm [in the game],” he said.
Providing support to Ybañez and De Vega while adding much-needed offensive firepower is Jan Julian Macam, the reigning Rookie of the Year and Season 87 Second Best Outside Spiker. The Red Warrior–turned–Tiger stepped up in his debut season with UST, amassing 146 points built on 112 attacks, 17 blocks, and 17 service aces. His breakout campaign also earned him the second Best Outside Hitter award with 259 position points.
New faces
The squad is also counting on the grit of its rookies, including libero Kalel Legaspi, who has moved from the UST juniors program to the collegiate ranks.
Legaspi recognized the differences in the level of play between the college and high school divisions, saying he was no longer allowed to make unnecessary errors.
“There’s no blaming in our team. When someone makes a mistake, we just have to lift each other up,” he said.
Loading up the arsenal is UAAP Season 86 Juniors Boys Volleyball MVP John Criz Ayco, who will provide support to Umandal on the opposite side. Meanwhile, De La Salle Lipa product Kris Gabriel Hernandez is set to add more offensive options as an open spiker.
While the España squad is set on exacting revenge against their semifinal tormentor last season, the team remains focused on sharpening its game plan and taking the season one game at a time.
“I let them set the [final] goal. I have my own goals [for the team] but I want the goal to come from them — that they want to be champions, they want to be in the finals,” Mamon said. F – Mc Neil Zyh Serrano and Jade Alecksandra Bagas
