The University of Santo Tomas Golden Spikers are already assured a spot in the Final Four alongside Far Eastern University Tamaraws, National University Bulldogs, and De La Salle University Green Spikers.
Aside from Josh Ybañez, Popoy Colinares, and Jay Rack De La Noche, one of the Golden Spikers’ go-to player is their rookie Jan Julian Macam, who is currently the 14th best scorer with 135 points, seventh best spiker with 42.08% efficiency, and second best server after averaging 0.40 aces per set.
“For myself, hindi ko tine-take as pressure ‘yung every game na tinatahak namin as a team kaya siguro nakakapag-perform ako nang maayos tsaka tumataas ‘yung confidence ko maglaro,” he said in an interview with Tiebreaker Times after the Golden Spikers sweeping the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, 25-17, 25-20, 25-11, on Wednesday, April 23.
In the past two seasons, the Golden Spikers settled for silver after failing to dethrone the defending champions, the National University Bulldogs. Now, Macam wants to help the team get back the crown they last won in Season 73 in 2011.
“Siyempre, ‘yung focus ko unang-una is ‘yung team muna, kasi masasabi ko na ‘yung individual awards ay second award na lang siya or bonus. Ang gusto ko talaga makuha is syempre, lahat naman ng teams, gusto naman mag-champion. Kaya kami rin, especially ako, ‘yun ‘yung goal kasi alam ko ‘yung hirap na pinagdadaanan ng team kahit nung wala pa ako. Ang daming ups and downs this season, pero papakita namin na kaya pa namin lumaban hanggang dulo,” he proclaimed.
Macam also thought of giving his seniors the championship they deserved, despite their long road to success, since they have a twice-to-beat disadvantage in the Final Four.
He ended, “Siyempre, napakalaking achievement na sa amin ‘yun sa team and also sa akin kasi oo nga, rookie ako ngayon. Kung papalarin na mag-champion kami ngayon, mas tataas pa ‘yung confidence ko heading into the next seasons. And at the same time, para mabigyan na ng inaasam na championship ang UST tsaka nila kuya Josh [Ybañez], Poy [Colinares], Dux [Yambao], at Gboy [de Vega].”
The Golden Spikers will face the defending champions, National University Bulldogs, on Sunday, April 27, at 9 am to end their elimination round.
