Angge Poyos and Josh Ybañez continued to play larger than their actual size as they powered the UST women’s and men’s teams, respectively, to a perfect week at the conclusion of the first round of the UAAP Season 86 volleyball tournaments.
Leading the Golden Tigresses and the Golden Spikers to similar 2-0 records, Poyos and Ybañez earned the nod as the Collegiate Press Corps’ UAAP Players of the Week in the women’s and men’s divisions, respectively, presented by San Miguel Corporation for the period March 13 to March 17.
Poyos averaged 20.0 points, ignited by a complete outing of 22 points, seven excellent digs, and seven excellent receptions in UST’s 25-22, 25-20, 26-24 sweep of UP on March 13.
The 5-foot-8 rookie outside hitter delivered another all-around performance, logging 18 points, 10 digs, and 10 receptions in the Golden Tigresses’ 25-18, 25-22, 15-25, 28-26 win over the Adamson Lady Falcons on March 16.
Poyos’ superb performances in those two games enabled the league-leading Tigresses to complete a 7-0 sweep — the school’s best start in the Final Four era and its first opening-round sweep since the 2006-07 season.
As impressive as UST’s start is, the Kungfu Reyes-mentored Golden Tigresses are not keen on lowering their guards anytime soon, with a lot of room for improvement in the tougher second round.
“I know na marami pa kaming tatrabahuin and marami pa ring ia-adjust sa mga susunod pa na mga games at talagang bawal kaming mag-relax dahil may second round pa,” said Poyos, who earned her second Player of the Week award.
Poyos surpassed La Salle’s Shevana Laput, FEU’s Chenie Tagaod, UP’s Steph Bustrillo, and Ateneo’s Lyann De Guzman for the weekly citation, supported by minor sponsors Discovery Suites and Jockey.
Meanwhile, the 5-foot-7 Ybañez averaged 22.5 points, starting with a 21-point game plus 11 receptions in the Golden Spikers’ 25-23, 25-14, 25-16 blanking of the UP Fighting Maroons on March 13.
In a hard-earned 25-18, 21-25, 25-19, 23-25, 15-10 victory over the Adamson Soaring Falcons on March 16, the reigning MVP poured in 24 points and made 26 receptions.
Ybañez and the Golden Spikers thus recovered from their three-game slide and ended the first round with back-to-back wins for a 4-3 slate, the fourth-best in the league.
Ybañez was more than willing to share the credit with his teammates.
“Masaya ako kasi nakita ko sa mga teammates ko na gustong-gusto nilang manalo at of course ako din at ayun nga, ginawa namin ito bilang isang team, nanalo kami bilang isang team,” said Ybañez, who outperformed NU’s Leo Aringo, FEU’s Martin Bugaoan, UE’s Axel Defeo, and Adamson’s John Gay for the Player of the Week award, given by the print and online scribes covering the beat.
