Beyond their quest for redemption, Gboy de Vega and the University of Santo Tomas Golden Spikers are drawing inspiration close to home as they chase a breakthrough in the 2025 V-League Collegiate Challenge.
After finishing in fourth place last year, UST is determined to turn the absence of two-time UAAP MVP Josh Ybanez and head coach Odjie Mamon—both currently with Alas Pilipinas Men ahead of the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship set to open on September 12—into added motivation as the eight-team tournament organized by Sports Vision intensifies toward the semifinals.
For De Vega, Ybanez’s stint with the Nationals is both inspiring and historic, especially with the Philippines hosting the World Championship for the very first time.
“Dagdag inspiration siya sa amin. Kumbaga meron kami isang teammate na nandoon para i-represent yung country natin sa parating na World Championship, which is very seldom mangyari sa Pilipinas kasi first time ito,” De Vega said after UST dispatched reigning NCAA champion Arellano University in straight sets on Wednesday evening at the Paco Arena Events and Sports Center in Manila.
In the long run, De Vega believes that Ybanez’s experience with Alas Men will prove that the Golden Spikers can be a steady pipeline of talent for the national team in the years to come.
While all UST players aspire to don the national colors one day, De Vega is confident that the explosive tandem of opposite hitter Al-Bukharie Sali and UAAP Season 87 Rookie of the Year JJ Macam will eventually make the leap to represent the Philippines internationally.
“Malaking inspiration ‘yon sa bawat isa para mas mag-improve then mas pataasin yung laro kasi in the next years, hindi natin alam, baka yung ibang mga bata namin -- sila [Al-Bukharie] Sali or kaya si [JJ] Macam -- makapasok sa national team,” the homegrown Golden Spiker added.
When Ybanez returns from his national team duty, De Vega is certain that a complete UST lineup will be a major threat in UAAP Season 88.
Sans Jayrack de la Noche, the Golden Spikers’ core remains intact with Ybanez, De Vega, Macam, Sali, and Dux Yambao, reinforced by high school standouts Joncriz Ayco, Crisean Cruz, Rain dela Paz, and Kalel Legaspi—the quartet that spearheaded the Junior Golden Spikers’ historic UAAP boys’ volleyball title run in Season 87.
“Pagdating ni Josh, dagdag firepower kasi lethal spiker siya. Alam naman natin si Josh, all-around siya -- sa blockings, sa spiking, sa depensa, lahat meron siya. I think pag mas nakumpleto kami, mas titibay kami at mas makakaimpluwensya siya sa entire ng team,” he concluded.
Currently holding solo second place with a 4-1 win-loss record, UST now braces for back-to-back challenges against Far Eastern University and De La Salle University to close out the elimination round.
