NU’s Belen, UST’s Ybanez cop UAAP MVP plums

MANILA, Philippines – National University Lady Bulldog Bella Belen and University of Santo Tomas’ Golden Spiker Josh Ybanez are now two-time UAAP volleyball tournament Most Valuable Players.

Belen, who led the Bulldogs to their third straight finals, was named UAAP Season 86 MVP before Game 2 of the UAAP men’s volleyball championship, after garnering 88.2 statistical points.

She finished the elimination round with 205 points off of 179 attacks, 15 blocks and 11 service aces. 

Aside from her scoring prowess, the Lady Bulldog also showed her all-around game throughout the season. 

The 21-year-old is the sixth most efficient spiker at 36.53%, eighth best server at 0.22 per set, the sixth best digger at 2.3 per set, and second best receiver with a 48.3% efficiency rate. 

With Belen at the forefront, the Lady Bulldogs are one win away from the championship as they leads the best-of-three championship series against the Golden Tigresses, 1-0. 

UST’s super rookie Angeline Poyos was named Rookie of the Year with 76.964 SPs. She is the runner-up in the MVP race. 

The freshman is second in the league in scoring with 290 total points off of 249 attacks, 23 aces and 18 blocks. 

Belen and Poyos are the first and second Best Outside Spikers, respectively.

Meanwhile, NU’s Alyssa Solomon is the Best Opposite Spiker once again. She finished the season with 235 positional points, while UST’s Bernadett Pepito is also the season’s Best Libero with 243 positional points. 

Golden Tigress Cassie Carballo is the Best Setter with 247 positional points.

La Salle’s Thea Gagate and UP’s Nina Ytang are the season’s Best Middle Blockers. 

Over at the men’s side, Ybanez is the MVP for the second straight season. 

Ybanez, who also towed UST to the finals for the second straight season, notched 89.64 statistical points as the league’s top scorer and best receiver. 

With this, Ybanez was named the Best Outside Spiker. The second best outside spiker is NU’s Nico Almendras.
 
Owa Retamar is also the UAAP’s Best Setter with 269 positional points. 

Far Eastern University’s Martin Bugaoan and La Salle’s Nath del Pilar are the Best Middle blockers. 

Bugaoan’s teammate, Dryx Saavedra, is the Best Opposite Spiker. La Salle’s Nard Guerrero is the Best Libero, and NU’s Jade Disquitado is the Rookie of the Year.