Josh Ybañez reclaims UAAP Men’s Volleyball throne with third MVP award

“Actually, I really didn’t take it as something na makakapagpa-pressure sa akin. Instead, this MVP is a motivation for me and a confidence boost to do better and to lead the team kung ano pang magagawa ko next year,” Ybañez said.

“As what I have said sa previous interviews, it is not my goal. Welcome ito sa akin, but that’s not what I’m chasing. Bonus na lang itong binigay ni God. Thank you, God. I’m grateful for this, pero alam niyo naman talaga ang pinaka-goal ko dito sa UAAP.”

The 23-year-old senior once again anchored UST’s offense and defense, ranking fourth in spiking with a 45.19-percent success rate, second in aces at 0.35 per set, and second in reception with a 65.68-percent efficiency clip.

He also finished as the league’s second-leading scorer with 278 points, coming from 244 spikes, 16 blocks, and 18 aces.

Ybañez also confirmed his commitment to play out his final year for UST, strengthening his goal of helping the Golden Spikers end their 16-year title drought.

“Honestly, I think it’s the love I have for my school. It’s my way of giving back to my community, so ayun yung inisip ko. I am so grateful na napunta ako sa UST, so why not laruin ko pa ang pinakahuli kong chance na ipaglaban ang team at maglaro for UST?” he said.

(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team

Ybañez completed a three-peat as Best Outside Spiker after finishing with 329 ranking points (RP). Meanwhile, National University’s Michaelo Buddin earned the other Best Outside Spiker award with 269 RP.

Buddin led the league in aces at 0.48 per set and placed eighth in spiking at 41.27-percent.

(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team

NU’s Leo Ordiales captured his first Best Opposite Spiker plum after tallying 232 RP, backed by strong all-around numbers — third in spiking (46.12-percent), sixth in blocking (0.67 per set), and seventh in aces (0.21 per set).

De La Salle University’s Issa Ousseini and Far Eastern University’s Lirick Mendoza were named Best Middle Blockers.

(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team

Ousseini finished with 196 RP and stood out as the highest-scoring middle blocker with 191 points, ranking eighth overall in scoring. He also placed fifth in blocking (0.71 per set) and fourth in aces (0.24 per set).

(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team

Mendoza, meanwhile, emerged as the league’s top shot-blocker with 46 total kill blocks and a 0.87 per set average.

(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team

FEU’s Ariel Cacao took the Best Setter award, finishing with 200 RP. Cacao led all setters with a 6.3 average per set and was the only one of the position to land inside the top 50 scorers with 44 points.

(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team

On the defensive end, FEU’s Vennie Ceballos secured the Best Libero award after topping the reception charts with a 70.67-percent efficiency rate and ranking second in digs at 2.13 per set.

(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team

Adamson University’s Richard Besorio, a 19-year-old rookie from Hua Siong College of Iloilo, was named Rookie of the Year, becoming only the second Soaring Falcon to win the award after Karlle Nikko Ramirez in UAAP Season 75.

(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team

The Golden Spikers also received their bronze medals, closing out their Season 88 campaign on the podium.