The UST Golden Spikers aim to showcase better chemistry in the second round of the UAAP Season 86 men’s volleyball tournament after their head coach rued that a “star complex” plagued the team in the first round.
UST head coach Odjie Mamon lamented that there were players who were rushing their set plays and feeling envious of teammates who were scoring points.
“What went wrong was that they fell back to the old mentality—mentality na every ball should result in a point,” Mamon told the Varsitarian. “It’s the attitude that they need to improve…kasi mayroong star complex. Dapat ‘yon, totally mawala na sa kanila. It takes six players to win a point.”
The UST Golden Spikers kicked off their Season 86 campaign with a streak-busting victory over defending champion National University, followed by a dominant win against the University of the East.
However, they experienced a setback with three straight losses before regaining momentum with back-to-back wins.
According to Mamon, the three-game losing streak was a wake-up call for the Golden Spikers, who were silver medalists last year.
“I revisited the system, I reintroduced the system that we are using right now,” he said. “Naglaro kami against La Salle, I think they were pressured to win against them. It’s an old issue. May personal grudges sila. ‘Yon ang dapat mawala.”
UST star Josh Ybañez, who topped the league in total first-round points with 151, said complacency crept in after their victory against NU.
“Iyon din ‘yong isa sa mga factors kung bakit may star mentality kasi nagkanya-kanya kami,” Ybanez told the Varsitarian. “Dapat systematic ‘yong galaw namin. Dapat connected ang mga ginagalaw namin inside the court.”
Ybañez believes chemistry could be the game-changer for the Golden Spikers in the second round, and he is determined to lead the way.
“Laging pinapaala sa amin ng mga coaches, minsan nakakalimutan namin mag-enjoy,” he said. “Pero ngayon, we’re working on the gelling ng team, na pag naka-score, kahit mahina man or malakas, nagse-celebrate kami.”
Mamon said a bright spot in the first round was the Tiger Spikers’ bench players stepping up and demonstrating their capability to perform when called upon.
“There are players who stepped up; nadagdagan yung mga bright spots,” the coach said.
The Golden Spikers will face the Ateneo Blue Eagles to open their second-round campaign on Wednesday noon at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
