JJ Macam remains focused on his ultimate goal: leading the University of Santo Tomas Golden Spikers over the hump after establishing himself as one of the breakout rookies in the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Volleyball Tournament.
Despite being in contention for the prestigious Rookie-MVP award, the 19-year-old rising star is keeping his eyes on the bigger picture.
Macam currently ranks second in the statistical points race with 148.75 SPs. He also sits seventh among the league’s Best Spikers with a 41.33-percent success rate and is third among the Best Servers with 0.35 aces per set.
“For myself, hindi ko tine-take as pressure yung every game na tinatahak namin as a team kaya siguro nakakapag-perform ako nang maayos tsaka tumataas yung confidence ko maglaro,” Macam told Tiebreaker Times after notching 11 points in UST’s straight-sets victory over also-ran University of the Philippines on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
His composed mindset has been forged through the heartbreaks UST endured in the past two seasons — making it to back-to-back finals appearances in Seasons 85 and 86, only to fall to the dynastic National University Bulldogs on both occasions.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Siyempre yung focus ko unang-una is sa team muna, kasi masasabi ko na yung individual awards ay second award na lang siya or bonus,” said the former UE High School standout.
“Ang gusto ko talaga makuha is siyempre, lahat naman ng teams, gusto naman mag-champion. Kaya kami rin, especially ako, ‘yon yung goal kasi alam ko yung hirap na pinagdadaanan ng team kahit nung wala pa ako. Ang daming ups and downs this season, pero papakita namin na kaya pa namin lumaban hanggang sa dulo.”
Beyond the accolades, Macam draws inspiration from the near-misses of his senior teammates — two-time MVP Josh Ybañez, team captain Dux Yambao, and veterans Gboy de Vega and Poy Colinares — who have fallen short of the championship despite their stellar performances.
Now, Macam feels determined to help deliver redemption and bring home UST’s first men’s volleyball title since its historic four-peat from Seasons 70 to 73.
“Siyempre napakalaking achievement na sa amin ‘yon sa team and also sa akin kasi oo nga, rookie ako ngayon. Kung papalarin na mag-champion kami ngayon, mas tataas pa yung confidence ko heading into the next seasons. And at the same time, para mabigyan na ng inaasam na championship ang UST tsaka nila kuya Josh, Poy, Dux at Gboy.”
