While University of Santo Tomas got off to a slow start in the 2024 V-League Men’s Collegiate Challenge by dropping its first two games, the España-based squad found a positive note in the strong performance of rookie JJ Macam.
Macam scored 31 points in his first two games of the pre-season tilt, including a 14-point performance against reigning UAAP champion National University, which helped tally the Golden Spikers’ first win.
UST head coach Odjie Mamon, along with outside hitters Gboy de Vega and team captain Dux Yambao, have been instrumental in helping the former University of the East Junior Warrior transition to collegiate play for the Golden Spikers.
“Ginagabayan din ako ng teammates ko, sila kuya Gboy at Dux, tsaka ng coaches ko at tsaka ni Lord,” Macam said.
“Alam ko naman na makikipagsabayan ako sa players dito [sa college], kaya kailangan ko lang maghustle nang maghustle,” he added.
(C) V-League Images
Despite being a rookie for UST, Macam showed signs of maturity by encouraging the squad to keep their heads high after losing their first two V-League games to Far Eastern University and De La Salle University.
And indeed, heads were held high as the Golden Spikers bested the Bulldogs for the first time since their second-round encounter in UAAP Season 86.
“Pinasok lang po namin sa isip namin na kahit 0-2 yung standing namin, laban pa rin nang laban, hindi pa naman tapos yung liga… Talagang pinagdadasalan namin makuha yung unang panalo namin, and ayon God’s will, nakuha naman namin,” the Marikina City-raised spiker shared.
For Mamon, he believes that Macam is nowhere near his full potential despite already making a name for himself in the V-League.
Not only does Macam have a huge room for improvement, but so do the other Golden Spikers’ rookies, including opposite spiker Al-Bukharie Sali and libero Edriel Alabar, he added.
“We expect a lot more from this rookie class… This tournament is really for the rookies,” the former men’s volleyball national team coach said.
