THE LOVE Josh Ybañez holds for UST convinced the newly crowned three-time MVP to maximize his fifth and final year of UAAP eligibility and return to the Golden Spikers for one last run next season.
“It’s the love I have for my school and it’s my way to pay back the UST community,” Ybañez told The Flame on Saturday, May 9.
Ybañez first announced his decision during the UAAP Season 88 men’s volleyball awarding ceremony at the Mall of Asia Arena.
“See you next year,” he told the crowd.
Despite UST’s bronze-clinching exit at the hands of the defending champions the NU Bulldogs, Ybañez remains satisfied with how he competed throughout the season.
“My mindset every game is to play at my best, to go all out and leave nothing behind, so that I won’t have any regrets in the end,” he said.
Ybañez secured his third MVP plum after topping the league’s statistical race in the men’s division, becoming the first player in UST history to win the award three times.
The Mindanao native finished with 90.192 statistical points (SPs), a commanding lead over NU standout Michaelo Buddin’ 74.038 SPs, which came in second.
He also emerged as the league’s second-leading scorer with 278 total points, built on 244 attacks, 16 blocks and 18 service aces. It was just six points shy of UP’s foreign student-athlete Raheem Olayemi, who led all scorers with 282 points.
The MVP also ranked fourth in spiking efficiency at 45.19%, second in service aces with an average of 0.35 per set and second in reception efficiency at 65.68%.
Among outside hitters, Ybañez remained unmatched, topping the position rankings with 329 ranking points.
After finishing fourth in the Season 87 MVP race with 74.255 SPs, Ybañez reclaimed his dominance this year. – With reports from Joshua Louis Sumanghid.
