IT’S SHOWTIME! — UAAP Season 87 volleyball wars erupt at MOA

Games today:

(Mall of Asia Arena)

9 a.m. - UE vs UP (M)

11 a.m. - FEU vs UST (M)

1 p.m. - UE vs UP (W)

3 p.m. - FEU vs UST (M)

Last year’s finalist University of Santo Tomas (UST) battles Far Eastern University in a high-action match when the Season 87 University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) volleyball tournament gets off the ground Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Four games will usher in the opening day hostilities but the 3 p.m. duel between the Angge Poyos-spiked Golden Tigresses and the Lady Tamaraws will be the main event.

Action officially kicks off at 9 a.m. with the University of the East taking on host University of the Philippines in the men’s division. At 11, it will be the turn of the UST men’s side and FEU to take center stage. The third game will be at 1 p.m. when UE and UP return in women’s play.

With key players Jona Perdido and Xyza Gula sidelined due to injury, UST head coach Kungfu Reyes is counting on the rookies to rise to the challenge and make an impact, expressing his excitement as they gear up for the season with Poyos, last year’s top rookie, playing a key role in the campaign.

“Hopefully, we make it to the Final Four, and we’ve got some great rookies this season,” Reyes said during a press conference last Thursday.

“With the injuries we’ve had, this season marks a new phase for UST.”

The pressure is on the newcomers to take on bigger and more active roles — especially after the UST Golden Tigresses went to the finals in UAAP Season 86.

For UST’s men’s team, one of the most anticipated storylines this season is the championship chase, led by reigning UAAP Season 86 MVP Josh Ybanez.

The 21-year-old outside hitter remains focused on one ultimate goal of bringing home UST’s first UAAP men’s volleyball title since 2011.

“I have no other goal but to win the championship. I’m disregarding the idea of individual awards. My main focus, and the team’s, is to become champions this season,” Ybanez told reporters in Filipino during the same presser.

UST is entering the season with a well-balanced mix of experienced veterans and promising rookies, factors the school is hoping will boost its title aspirations.

With four-time defending champions National University (NU) losing key players such as Nico Almendras and Joshua Retamar, Ybanez believes that UST still has an opportunity to end its 14-year title drought.

“We have great additions, from the rookies all the way to Alche (Gupiteo). I think if someone is off their game, there’s always someone ready to step up and contribute to the team,” Ybanez explained in Filipino.

As the UAAP volleyball season gets underway, fans can expect intense competition from top-tier collegiate talents.