Gboy de Vega doesn’t need to look far for inspiration — he sees it in his own locker room.
With teammate Josh Ybanez making history as part of Alas Pilipinas Men for the upcoming 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship, De Vega and the rest of the University of Santo Tomas Golden Spikers are fueled by the belief that one of their own has reached the biggest stage.
After a fourth-place finish in last year’s V-League Collegiate Challenge, UST feels determined to break through this season, even without Ybanez and head coach Odjie Mamon, who are both on national duty.
For De Vega, their absence is not a setback but a source of motivation as the Golden Spikers chase a semifinal berth in the eight-team tournament organized by Sports Vision.
“Dagdag inspiration siya sa amin. Kumbaga meron kami isang teammate na nandoon para i-represent yung country natin sa parating na World Championship, which is very seldom mangyari sa Pilipinas kasi first time ito,” De Vega shared after UST dispatched reigning NCAA champion Arellano University in straight sets Wednesday at the Paco Arena.
The UST captain believes Ybanez’s milestone proves that the España-based squad can produce players ready for international competition.
More importantly, it sets a standard for the younger Golden Spikers to aim higher.
(C) V-League Images
“Malaking inspiration ‘yon sa bawat isa para mas mag-improve then mas pataasin yung laro kasi in the next years, hindi natin alam, baka yung ibang mga bata namin — sila [Al-Bukharie] Sali or kaya si [JJ] Macam — makapasok sa national team,” De Vega added, pointing to the team’s rising stars like opposite hitter Al-Bukharie Sali and UAAP Season 87 Rookie of the Year JJ Macam.
De Vega is confident that when Ybanez returns from national team duties, UST will be even more dangerous in the UAAP.
The Golden Spikers’ core remains intact with Ybanez, De Vega, Macam, Sali, and playmaker Dux Yambao. Boosting them is the arrival of blue-chip recruits Joncriz Ayco, Crisean Cruz, and Kalel Legaspi — the trio that led the Junior Golden Spikers to their first-ever UAAP boys’ volleyball title last season.
“Pagdating ni Josh, dagdag firepower kasi lethal spiker siya. Alam naman natin si Josh, all-around siya — sa blockings, sa spiking, sa depensa, lahat meron siya. I think pag mas nakumpleto kami, mas titibay kami at mas makaka-impluwensya siya sa entire team,” he said.
With a 4-1 record and solo second place in the standings, UST now faces back-to-back challenges against Far Eastern University and De La Salle University to close out the elimination round.
