UAAP SEASON 86 men’s beach volleyball MVP Alche Gupiteo is transitioning back to indoor volleyball as he prepares to join the UST Golden Spikers for the Season 87 men’s volleyball tournament.
Gupiteo, who helped steer the Tiger Sands to their sixth straight title in men’s beach volleyball, originally joined UST as an indoor volleyball recruit in 2022.
Although he has three years of UAAP eligibility left, Gupiteo is set to graduate this year, a factor that largely contributed to him signing up for two sports in Season 87, according to Tiger Sands head coach Paul Doloiras.
“Sinabi ko rin sa kaniya na pumunta ka ng indoors…So gusto niya rin naman kasi mas well experienced na siya. At saka sabi ko, sayang kasi ‘yong skills mo na pang-elite na player,” Doloiras told the Varsitarian.
“Sobrang proud ako lagi kahit sinong players ko. Support lang ako. Priority ko palagi is sila, kung anong desisyon nila. Proud ako sa kaniya na makatulong lalo siya sa indoors,” he added.
Doloiras said the 6-foot-2 outside hitter brings a “complete” skill set that is expected to significantly enhance the team’s defense.
Gupiteo entered UST in 2022 alongside fellow Mindanaoan standout Josh Ybañez, who has won two MVP awards in men’s volleyball.
“Malaking bagay siya kasi kumpleto siya — may receive, may depensa, may block…sa physical conditioning. Malakas talaga siya. Sobrang lakas ng katawan kasi galing dito sa beach volleyball,” he said.
“Marami siyang skills na mabibigay sa indoors so talagang matutulungan niya nang mabuti.”
Doloiras, a former Golden Spiker who took over UST’s beach volleyball teams in 2016, acknowledged that Gupiteo may face challenges in reconfiguring his play for indoor volleyball but expressed confidence that he would succeed.
“Since galing naman siya do’n, naglalaro naman siya ng indoor, feeling ko naman makukuha niya naman ‘yon bago mag-UAAP.”
Doloiras expects Gupiteo’s addition to the Golden Spikers roster to give exposure to younger Tiger Sands.
“Graduating siya e. Binibigyan ko rin ng chance ‘yong iba kong player na ma-expose kasi nare-ready ko na rin ‘yong mga bagong player na ‘di na sila kasama sa lineup…para anytime na mag-exit sila, may kapalit na kaagad,” he said.
“Kahit natatalo lang, walang problema basta ang importante nakaka-experience, nakaka-expose kami ng mga susunod na player na papalit sa kanila.”
It has yet to be determined which role men’s volleyball coach Odjie Mamon will give Gupiteo.
The UAAP Season 87 volleyball tournaments are set to commence in February.