UST standout Josh Ybañez is on track to secure his third Most Valuable Player award after topping the statistical race in the men’s division of the UAAP Season 88 men’s volleyball tournament.
Ybañez is set to become the first player from the UST Golden Spikers to capture three MVP honors.
The Mindanao native finished at No. 1 with 90.192 statistical points (SP), a commanding 16.154-point lead over Michaelo Buddin of the NU Bulldogs, who placed second with 74.038 SP.
Ybañez also emerged as the league’s second-leading scorer with 278 total points—built on 244 attacks, 16 blocks, and 18 aces—just six shy of Raheem Olayemi of the UP Fighting Maroons, who paced the scoring race with 282.
The two-time MVP ranked fourth in spiking efficiency at 45.19 percent, second in service aces averaging 0.35 per set, and second in reception efficiency at 65.68 percent.
He also leads all outside hitters, topping the position rankings with 329 ranking points (RP).
In season 87, Ybañez placed fourth in the MVP race with 74.255 SP, while Kennedy Batas of the Ateneo Blue Eagles secured the Season MVP honors with 79.81 SP.
In the women’s division Angge Poyos finished fourth in the MVP race with 77.600 SP.
The ace spiker made a significant leap from her seventh-place finish last season (55.902 SP), climbing three spots in this year’s standings.
The UST Golden Tigresses go-to hitter ranked second in total scoring with 255 points, trailing only Shaina Nitura, who led the league with 284 and is poised to secure the Season MVP plum.
Poyos also topped the spiking department with a 39.68 percent success rate, though she placed fourth among outside spikers with 254 RP.
Meanwhile, teammate Regina Jurado broke into the Top 10 of the MVP race, finishing 10th with 58.800 SP.
The lefty opposite spiker ranked second at her position with 173 RP, trailing Shevana Laput of the DLSU Lady Spikers, who led with 188 RP.
Jurado also placed fifth overall in spiking efficiency, posting a 36.76 percent success rate. F
