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UST's JJ Macam. PVL Media
MANILA -- With their top spiker attending to his duties with the Philippine men's national volleyball team, University of Santo Tomas has turned to its young guns -- such as sophomore JJ Macam -- to fill the void.
Two-time UAAP Most Valuable Player Joshua Ybañez is busy with Alas Pilipinas but the Golden Spikers have remained hard at work in the preseason, including in the 2025 V-League Men's Collegiate Challenge.
After a stellar debut in the UAAP allowed him to nab the Rookie of the Year Award in Season 87, Macam has continued to impress on the taraflex as the volleyball preseason reaches its final stretch.
Speaking to ABS-CBN News, Macam expressed his gratitude to his coaches who have continued to help him grow and develop as a player.
"Thankful ako [sa coaching staff], hopefully ma-angat namin yung team [dahil] pinaka-goal namin ay manalo ng title sa lahat ng liga na [sinasalihan] namin," Macam said, after powering UST to a straight-sets win over NCAA champion Arellano University on Wednesday.
READ: Macam drops 14 points to power UST past NCAA champs Arellano
Despite only being in his second year, Macam is ready to step up as he knows he is seen as a leader by his younger teammates in Ybañez's absence.
"Focused lang ako sa kung anong meron ako ngayon, kung ano yung mas nakakatulong sa akin, mas nag-fofocus ako [ngayon] sa present," the UST Golden Spiker said.
"Gusto ko muna mag-improve sa sarili ko bago ako mag [isip ng] next step," he added.
Training with juniors who were part of the championship-winning team in Season 87, Macam is confident that despite the looming exits of key players such as GBoy De Vega, Ybañez, and Dux Yambao, the team will remain in good hands.
"Pag training nakikipag-sabayan talaga sila, di mo makikita na first year talaga sila [lalo na] yung mga galing ng UST High School na champions nung Season 87, lahat nakikipag-sabayan, walang naiiwan sakanila," Macam said
"As a [sophomore] kami yung nag-iinput sakanila ng system, sila naman, nakikinig sila lagi [sa mga instructions namin]," he added.
UST's JJ Macam. PVL Media
With the volleyball preseason down to its final stretches Macam firmly believes that while they have been winning matches, there is still more to improve both individually and as a team.
"Sa performance ko masasabi ko na malayo pa ako sa dapat na maabot ko… Yung V-League kasi iba sya sa UAAP, sa UAAP dapat mas consistent ka, tsaka more efficient," the reigning UAAP rookie of the Year said.
"Siguro [as a team] meron nang nasisimulan [sa chemistry] but di pa ganon ka-organized yung system namin, ilang buwan pa siguro ng training tsaka pag-titiyaga," he added.
UST finished third in their UAAP Season 87 campaign after falling to the FEU Tamaraws in three games and finished fourth in the 2024 version of the V-League after bowing out to La Salle in the semi-finals in three games.
Macam and the Golden Spikers will be looking to book a ticket back to the semi-finals of the V-League as they take on the defending champions FEU Tamaraws on Saturday, Sept. 6, at the Paco Arena.