Ever since their rookie year in UAAP Season 85, Josh Ybañez and Gboy de Vega have been the reliable tandem for the University of Santo Tomas Golden Spikers.
Many expected that partnership to continue into Season 87, especially after UST’s back-to-back Finals appearances.
Now in their third playing year, the duo started in UST’s first four matches of the season — until head coach Odjie Mamon made a bold decision to replace De Vega in the starting lineup with rising rookie JJ Macam.
In UST’s fourth game, De Vega still started but went scoreless against Adamson University. Following that performance, Mamon made the lineup change in their next outing.
De Vega’s last appearance as a spiker came in UST’s sixth match, where he tallied 11 points in a four-set loss to Ateneo de Manila University. From that point on, he was primarily utilized as a service specialist for the rest of the elimination round, contributing only five points in the remaining eight games.
But with UST’s season hanging in the balance, entering the Final Four as the No. 3 seed against the twice-to-beat No. 2 National University, Mamon rolled the dice once again.
The UST stalwart reinserted De Vega into the starting lineup — and the move paid off.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
De Vega’s return sparked the Golden Spikers to force a rubber match, taking down NU in four sets, 26-24, 27-25, 19-25, 25-18, on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“Thank you kasi binigyan ako ulit ng chance ni coach na makabalik and ma-prove yung doubters ko wrong… na makakatulong pa rin ako sa team,” said De Vega, a proud product of UST High School.
“I’m very happy lang na nakapag-contribute ako sa madaming way, and I hope na mas mapagtrabahuhan ko pa yun and mapag-ensayuhan ko pa nang sa ganon, [para] sa next game, mas okay yung mapakita ko, mapakita ng team namin and mas united yung babalik dito na UST pagdating ng Game 2.”
After weeks of limited minutes as a service specialist, De Vega delivered a stellar all-around performance: 14 points, 12 excellent receptions, and five digs — providing crucial support to regular scorers Josh Ybañez and Jay Rack Dela Noche.
For Coach Mamon, the decision to bring De Vega back was rooted in his trust and the player’s big-game experience.
“Tiwala ako doon kasi Gboy played in two championships already. So, with the endorsement also of the coaching staff, we decided to fill in Gboy and also have Alche Gupiteo in the roster. So, yun lang. Maganda naman yung resulta. So, thank you, you didn’t let me down,” said Mamon.
What made De Vega’s comeback even more impressive was that he only found out he was starting on the same day of the game.
For De Vega, it’s all about staying ready and embracing whatever role he gets.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Wala po actually, kanina niya lang sinabi sa akin and hindi naman po ako nagugulat. Kumbaga, each and every day, saka each and every game po, ready ako sa kung ano yung ibigay saking role,” he shared.
“Kung service specialist, basta kung kailangan po ako, lalo na pag alanganin, minemake sure ko na ready ako palagi and ayun, thankful talaga ako kay Coach kasi binigyan niya ulit ako ng kumpyansa makabalik sa laro ko and di ko magagawa yun lahat kung wala akong kumpyansa sa coach ko and sa teammates ko.”
