Poyos, Ybañez growling loud
Angge Poyos led the Golden Tigresses to a 2-0 slate while Josh Ybañez bannered the Golden Spikers to a flawless week
A pair of University of Santo Tomas stars made their presence felt as they powered their respective teams to a perfect week in the conclusion of the first round of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 86 volleyball tournaments.
Angge Poyos led the Golden Tigresses to a 2-0 slate while Josh Ybañez bannered the Golden Spikers to a flawless week, enough for them to gain the nod of the Collegiate Press Corps as its Players of the Week from 13 to 17 March.
Poyos normed 20.0 points ignited by a complete outing of 22 points, seven excellent digs, and seven excellent receptions in UST’s 25-22, 25-20, 26-24 sweep of UP on 13 March.
Then, the 5-foot-8 rookie outside hitter came up with another all-around performance, logging 18 points, 10 digs, and 10 receptions in the Golden Tigresses’ 25-18, 25-22, 15-25, 28-26 win over the Adamson Lady Falcons on 16 March.
Poyos’ superb performances in those two games enabled the league-leading Tigresses to complete a 7-0 sweep -- the school’s best start in the Final Four era and first opening-round sweep since the 2006-07 season.
As rousing as UST’s start is, the Golden Tigresses are not keen on lowering their guards anytime soon with a lot of room for improvement in the tougher second round.
“I know we still have a lot to work on and adjust in the coming games. We can’t afford to relax because we still have the second round,” said Poyos, who earned her second Player of the Week plum.
Meanwhile, the 5-foot-7 Ybañez averaged 22.5 points starting with a 21-point game plus 11 receptions in the Golden Spikers’ 25-23, 25-14, 25-16 blanking of University of the Philippines on 13 March.
In a hard-earned 25-18, 21-25, 25-19, 23-25, 15-10 victory over the Adamson Soaring Falcons on 16 March, the reigning Most Valuable Player then poured 24 points and 26 receptions.
Ybañez and the Golden Spikers thus recovered from their three-game slide and ended the first round with back-to-back wins for a 4-3 slate, fourth best in the league.