University of Santo Tomas–Gameville is eager to prove that even as a replacement team, the Golden Spikers should not be taken lightly in the upcoming 2025 Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference.
UST will take the spot originally reserved for 2025 V-League Collegiate Challenge silver medalist De La Salle University, which withdrew from the men’s premier volleyball league due to academic commitments. The Golden Spikers earned their berth after finishing third in the same collegiate tournament.
For rising outside spiker JJ Macam, the team is ready to show it can compete with the country’s top club squads when the Invitational Conference opens on October 27, Monday, at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
“Siguro po mas mataas po yung confidence namin kasi yung mga makakatapat namin mas ahead yung skills po sa amin,” said Macam on Monday during the league’s press conference at Discovery Suites in Ortigas.
“Eager kami kasi alam namin na kaya talaga kaming talunin kapag nagrerelax kami kaya need po talaga namin mag-overload sa every day training,” he added.
(C) V-League Images
Expected to lead UST–Gameville in its first Spikers’ Turf appearance in seven years are collegiate superstar Josh Ybañez, standout Gboy De Vega, and 6-foot-5 young opposite Al-Bukharie Sali, among other reliable options.
Head coach Odjie Mamon shared that the team’s initial goal is to reach the semifinals and earn the chance to face the visiting squads from abroad.
Kindai University of Japan and ProVolley Academy of Australia are set to raise the level of competition in the round-robin semifinal stage.
The tournament format will feature eight local teams playing in a single round-robin elimination phase, with the top four advancing to the semifinals.
“Goal namin is makasama kami doon sa apat na makakapasok sa semis, so pupukpukin ko yung team para ibigay nila. Rare opportunity to be included in the semis pool where we will face the guest teams from Japan and Australia, so ilalaban ko itong mga bata,” said Mamon.
