UAAP: UST using pressure as motivation to overcome top-seeded Tamaraws

The UST Golden Spikers. Photo from UAAP Media

MANILA — The UST Golden Spikers are still in contention in the UAAP Season 86 men's volleyball Final 4 after they overcame the FEU Tamaraws on Sunday afternoon.

The fourth-seed UST squad stunned the No. 1 seed FEU to force a decider on Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum, and leading the Golden Spikers were Josh Ybañez, Gboy De Vega, and Sherwin Umandal.

READ: UST stuns FEU in 3 sets, forces decider for men’s Finals spot

Ybañez converted on the game-winning attack which was one of his 16 points in the game, and the reigning league MVP said that what powered their win as well as his performance was the pressure of keeping their season alive and facing the league’s best team after the elimination round.

"Kailangan namin yung pressure," Ybañez told reporters after the game as they finally scored their first win over the Tams this year. 

"Yung pressure will give us the drive para manalo. Pag walang pressure, parang sobrang relaxed namin, so mas mabuting ini-instill [ng coaches] na sobrang importanteng game 'to."

"Binibigyan nila kami ng drive at ng willingness at eagerness manalo," he continued.

De Vega and Umandal, who poured in 10 and 14 markers, respectively, for UST in their triumph, also vouched for the sentiments of Ybañez.

"Yung pressure, pipilitin naming gamitin yung pressure na maging factor para mas maka focus kami," said De Vega. "Minsan, yung pressure, nakakapanigas eh. Pero pag na-take mo naman siya ng tama, mas motivated ka maglaro at mas kumpyansa ka mag laro."

"Sa akin, yung pressure, 'di naman po siguro mawawala yun," added Umandal. "Siguro yung pressure, sa mas magandang way namin gagamitin. Magpupursige kami at mag do-double effort kami kada training."

Ybañez had nothing but praise for his teammates, with De Vega and Umandal in particular stepping up for the Golden Spikers just as they were facing elimination.

"I'm so happy for my teammates kasi sobrang nag step up sila. Malaki yung tiwala ko sa kanila, and kanina, iniisip ko na if hindi ako maka atake sa harap, there are so many aspects pa sa volleyball na pwede ako maka tulong," explained the Season 85 Rookie of the Year.

For Umandal, it was crucial that they stayed locked in ahead of the game.

"Siguro, naka lock in po kasi kami. Napag usapan namin na hindi kaming pwede maglalaro for Finals," he said.

Umandal believes that their squad is capable of not only repeating their Finals appearance from last season, but going all the way to claim the championship.

"Hindi pwedeng hindi namin makuha yung championship lalo na't mas intact yung team namin ngayon," emphasized Umandal.

For now, their focus is on defeating the Tamaraws on Wednesday at the Big Dome as they look to score another upset.

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