Camille Naredo

UST's Josh Ybañez receives the UAAP Season 88 MVP trophy, May 9, 2026 at the Mall of Asia Arena. UAAP Media

UST's Josh Ybañez receives the UAAP Season 88 MVP trophy, May 9, 2026 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Article (news)

UAAP Season 88

Paige Javier

ABS-CBN News

MANILA – Three-time UAAP Most Valuable Player Josh Ybañez is determined to bring glory back to the University of Santo Tomas, announcing his return for his final playing year in Season 89.  Ybañez is the first Golden Spiker to win the league&#x27;s highest honor three times.  He made the announcement after receiving the MVP and Best Outside Spiker awards on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.  <div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/volleyball/2026/4/23/josh-yba-ez-will-be-named-uaap-mvp-for-third-time-1506">READ: Josh Ybañez will be named UAAP MVP for third time</a></div>&quot;Sa mga pinakamamahal kong teammates and coaches, thank you so much. This one&#x27;s for you guys. I won&#x27;t be able to achieve this without you guys,&quot; he said during his acceptance speech. &quot;These awards serve as a testament that anything is possible if you put your heart and soul into everything you do. UST has always been my home. And as long as I have the chance na maglaro and ipaglaban ang UST, gagawin at gagawin ko yun. So see you guys next year,&quot; Ybañez added.  Before making the announcement, Ybañez expressed gratitude for everyone who was part of his journey this Season 88.  &quot;First and foremost I wanna thank God na natapos yung UAAP journey namin ng safe at healthy kami lahat. Of course, congratulations sa mga awardees din,&quot; he said. &quot;Also I wanna thank my family, they flew from GenSan papunta dito sa Manila just to watch our UAAP games. And I&#x27;m so so grateful for that,&quot; Ybañez added. The Alas Pilipinas standout said his love for UST is one of the major factors in his decision to stay for his final playing year. &quot;Honestly, I think it&#x27;s the love I have for my school. It&#x27;s my way of paying back or giving back to my community. So, ayun lang yung inisip ko na I am so grateful na napunta ko sa UST. So, why not laruin ko pa ang pinaka-huli kong chance na ipaglabanan maglaro para for the university,&quot; Ybañez said. <div> </div><div>TURNING PRESSURE TO MOTIVATION </div>Last week, the three-time MVP turned emotional after the Golden Spikers got knocked out of the Men&#x27;s Volleyball Final Four by National University.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/volleyball/2026/4/30/-you-carried-us-coach-reassures-josh-yba-ez-after-ust-s-final-4-exit-0040">READ: Coach reassures Josh Ybañez after UST&#x27;s Final 4 exit</a></div>But now that he officially received the MVP plum, Ybañez is even more motivated to achieve his goal of bringing the crown back to España.  &quot;Siguro as compared to the first two. Actually, I really didn&#x27;t take it as something na makaka-pressure sa akin. Instead, it&#x27;s a motivation for me. It&#x27;s a confidence boost to do better and to lead the team kung ano pang magagawa ko next year,&quot; he said. &quot;It [MVP] is not my goal. Meron kaming team goal and that&#x27;s what I&#x27;m chasing for. Hindi yung pag-MVP, bonus na lang ito kung binigay sa akin ng God. Thank you God, I&#x27;m grateful for this. Pero alam nyo naman talaga yung pinaka-goal ko dito sa UAAP,&quot; Ybañez shared. Ahead of his final playing year, Ybañez said the goal remains the same – to help UST win and to consistently play at a high level. &quot;Personally, ang pinaka-goal ko lang talaga is to perform at my best every game and of course to lead my teammates to be an inspiration sa mga younger teammates ko,&quot; the 23-year-old said. &quot;And ayun, I hope na mas mamold ako, mas maging better athlete ako, mas maging better leader ako next year para ma-lead ko yung mga teammates ko. And ayun, yun lang yung pinaka-goal ko talaga,&quot; he added. Ybañez and the Golden Spikers finished third in UAAP Season 88 Men&#x27;s Volleyball. Aside from MVP, Ybañez was named Best Opposite Spiker alongside fellow Alas teammate Buds Buddin of National University. Lirick Mendoza of Far Eastern University and Issa Ousseini of the De La Salle University earned Best Middle Blocker honors. NU&#x27;s Leo Ordiales won Best Opposite Spiker, while Far Eastern University&#x27;s Ariel Cacao is Best Setter and Vennie Ceballos is Best Libero. Adamson University&#x27;s Richard Besorio was awarded Rookie of the Year.

Three-time UAAP Most Valuable Player Josh Ybañez is determined to bring glory back to the University of Santo Tomas, announcing his return for his final playing year in Season 89.

Three-time UAAP Most Valuable Player Josh Ybañez is determined to bring glory back to the University of Santo Tomas, announcing his return for his final playing year in Season 89.

After receiving third MVP trophy, Ybañez confirms return to UST for Season 89

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After receiving third MVP trophy, Ybañez confirms return to UST for Season 89

Paige Javier,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 09, 2026 12:52 PM PHT

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UAAP

UAAP Season 88

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