UST men's volleyball skipper Ybanez upbeat on personal improvement

MANILA, Philippines -- Expect a more aggressive Josh Ybanez in the coming UAAP Season 86 men’s volleyball.

Ybanez, who led the UST Golden Spikers to the finals in last year’s tournament as the league’s Rookie of the Year-Most Valuable Player, will be “faster and braver” this upcoming season, he told reporters.

“They can see a faster Josh, a braver Josh and a Josh who has bigger trust to his team,” Ybanez told reporters in Filipino on Monday.

Last year, the UST stalwart, who was also named the 1st Best Outside Spiker of the tourney, powered the Golden Spikers to an 11-3 win-loss record.

They, then, faced the FEU Tamaraws in the second round of the stepladder and eventually faced the NU Bulldogs in the Finals, where they were swept.

This time around, Ybanez said that he is eyeing to continue what he and the team built.

“What I started last year was really good, so I think I just have to continue it. I will just do my best and give an all-out performance all the time, every game, so I could give an even bigger contribution to the team,” the 5-foot-7 spiker said.

And now that the team came close to the championship last season, they are not stopping there.

“Of course, we were the silver medalists last year, and now, we aim higher. We want to be champions and we will work on that,” he said.

“We are really, really focused on how we can be champions [this time around,] but of course, we will also work hard during our training. I know we have to make sacrifices but these will be worth it soon."

UST will kick off its season against NU on Sunday, February 18, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.