University of Santo Tomas will have a busy calendar for the remainder of the year as it tries to keep the fire burning following a runner-up finish in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 85 men’s volleyball tournament.
Golden Spikers head coach Odjie Mamon plans to have his crew led by Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player winner Josh Ybanez join a couple of pre-season tournaments for an early build-up for next year’s collegiate wars.
“We have two to three (competitions in mind) but I think we’ll just push for two tournaments for the remaining part of the year,” Mamon said after steering the UST back to the finals after 11 years.
“My priority is joining the under-23 by the PNVF (Philippine National Volleyball Federation) and the V-League.”
Opening dates of the said tournaments are yet to be announced.
The Golden Spikers bowed down in the best-of-three championship series to the mighty National University, which completed an amazing unbeaten tournament run for a three-peat.
But despite the loss, UST gave the Bulldogs a hard time in the series opener that went to a deciding fifth frame before eventually surrendering in straight sets in Game 2.
‘We have two to three (competitions in mind) but I think we’ll just push for two tournaments for the remaining part of the year.’
Still, Mamon expressed pride over his wards for showing grit and determination in the return of the men’s division after a three-year pandemic hiatus.
“For this season we already overachieved when we reached the finals. I promised the university that I will be in the Final Four coming from fifth place before the pandemic,” he said.
“Although we thought we had a chance, we still had to manage our expectations. I told that to my players at the start of our program,” Mamon, who is also an assistant coach of the men’s national team, added.
“We’re still maturing as a team but all that I can promise is a better and brighter future next year.”
The Golden Spikers are looking to follow the same path that led them to a good run in Season 85.
UST joined the inaugural staging of the V-League last year, finishing second behind champion NU in the best-of-three title series that went the full distance.
With Ybanez, national team standout Jay Rack de la Noche and energizer Gboy de Vega returning next year, Mamon is confident the Golden Spikers will have a better chance of ending a 12-year title drought next season.
“Hopefully we can maintain (our momentum). I will have an intact lineup but there will be some transition of players. That’s my next job, actually, the transition of players,” Mamon said.
“We have new recruits coming in and seven players from the current lineup will be graduating but I might ask at least two or three to stay but I still don’t know who will agree to remain for another year.”
