Following a historic stint with Alas Pilipinas Men in the recently concluded 2025 FIVB Men’s World Volleyball Championship, it would have been understandable if University of Santo Tomas’ two-time UAAP MVP Josh Ybanez had chosen to sit out the Golden Spikers’ semifinal run in the 2025 V-League Men’s Collegiate Challenge.
Ybanez had just gone through a grueling summer that included training camps in the United States and Europe, back-to-back campaigns in the 2025 SEA V.League, and the Philippines’ historic 19th-place finish in the World Championship.
The Davao native could have then easily passed the baton to homegrown product Gboy de Vega, UAAP Season 87 Rookie of the Year JJ Macam, and Al-Bukharie Sali to carry the Golden Spikers’ bid for a maiden title in the tournament organized by Sports Vision.
However, answering the call of UST head coach Odjie Mamon — who also serves as an assistant coach with Alas Pilipinas Men — Ybanez wasted no time in making his collegiate Taraflex comeback with the Golden Spikers.
(C) V-League Images
“Actually, it was Coach Odjie’s call. Cinonfirm naman niya sa akin, tinanong niya ako kung kaya ko ba and sabi ko oo naman, of course. If there’s something na I could help sa team or maco-contribute ko, gagawin ko ‘yon palagi,” the 22-year-old outside hitter told Tiebreaker Times on Wednesday afternoon at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
“Ang unang motivation ko is to give back sa community kasi I don’t know if it’s my last playing year. Pero hanggang sa may mabibigay ako sa UST, gagawin at gagawin ko ‘yon,” he added.
Although his first two outings with the Golden Spikers ended in heartbreaking five-set defeats — one to the DLSU Green Archers in the preliminaries and another to defending champion FEU Tamaraws in the semifinals — the third time proved to be the charm.
Ybanez powered UST to a four-set victory over FEU, forcing a do-or-die Game 3 in their best-of-three series.
With UST’s back against the wall, Ybanez rose to the occasion with a blistering 25-point performance, capped by two clutch attacks that sealed the win in the fourth set. He also tallied 26 excellent receptions and 13 excellent digs.
“Sobrang thankful and happy ako kay God kasi nanalo kami this game. Pero again, hindi pa tapos yung laban. We’ll play again sa Saturday, pero for now, i-eenjoy muna namin itong panalo na ito tapos magfo-focus na agad kami para sana, makapasok sa Finals,” he shared.
Ybanez’s return to UST comes after establishing himself as one of the standout defensive players among the 32-team field in the World Championship.
Serving as the main libero for Alas Pilipinas, the 5-foot-7 versatile star finished as the tournament’s fifth-best receiver (7.67 receptions per game with a 31.51-percent success rate) and seventh in digs (7.0 digs per game, 60-percent success rate).
Yet beyond the numbers, what Ybanez cherishes most from the Philippines’ maiden World Championship stint is the reminder he constantly gave his teammates — that victory comes from heart and fighting spirit, and that size means little when belief and confidence are present.
“Lagi ko talaga sinasabi sa kanila at shina-share na yung fighting spirit at yung puso sa paglalaro, ‘yon ang importante para manalo sa isang laro,” he concluded.
“Para sa akin kasi, kahit gaano kalaki yung kalaban, gusto ko na lagi nilang isipin na we are bigger than them, we’re more talented than them. Kasi kaya naman talaga.”
