National University setter Owa Retamar expressed his admiration and respect for high-flying rookie Josh Ybanez and his big contributions to the University of Santo Tomas's cause.
The playmaker admitted that Ybanez gave them the biggest problem in Game 1 of their University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 85 men's volleyball best-of-three finals series, with the pint-sized bomber coming out with clutch plays that made the Golden Spikers a tough nut to crack.
Luckily for the three-peat-seeking Bulldogs, the breaks of the game went their way particularly in the closing stretch of the fifth set of their 25-23, 25-22, 21-25, 29-31, 15-11 escape Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena that pushed them within a win from completing a season sweep.
"We're happy with the result because we're able to get the win. But this game will play a big factor in what we should do in training (for Game 2)," Retamar said following NU's 15th straight win of the season and 33rd overall since 2019.
"We have a lot of things to address especially on stopping Ybanez's attacks because they (UST) get most of their points from him."
The Golden Spikers recruit, who is tipped to win the Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year award because of his consistent stellar performance the whole season long, was unstoppable on offense as he dropped a game-high 28 points off 28-of-61 attacking clip.
The flamboyant winger along with Gboy de Vega and Rainer Flor carried UST's crisp spiking as the squad outgunned NU, 72-61.
But it was Ybanez crunch time heroics in the fourth set that saved the Golden Spikers from the jaws of defeat, saving two match points before eventually forcing the decider.
UST, which is on its first championship return in 11 years, kept it close in the fifth set only to commit four consecutive miscues that opened the door for NU's escape.
Retamar also appreciated the sportsmanship of Ybanez as he showed concern over the setter's injury scare midway in the fifth frame when their knees collided in an aerial battle.
"We're friends and I know it's not intentional. He said sorry and I understand that this thing happens and it's part of the game. Thank you to (Josh) Ybanez because he checked on me after I got hurt," he said.
Now a win away from their fifth crown, NU is focused on closing it out on Sunday at the same venue.
"Our mindset is the same. Game 1 is already done. We already won. Our focus now is on Game 2 and we must be ready to finish off UST," Retamar said.