IT was Alas Pilipinas Men’s newest duo of ‘queens’ in Josh Ybañez and Kennedy Batas who put the exclamation point on offense and defense, respectively, in a thrilling 25-23, 27-29, 25-21, 25-22 win over Jakarta Bhayangkara Presisi last Tuesday.
The last two UAAP men’s volleyball MVPs put on a show with spiker-turned-libero Ybañez’ 35 percent receiving efficiency going alongside Batas’ impactful clutch cameo with three markers to close out the match.
READ: Alas Men take down back-to-back Indonesian champs in four sets
Results aside, it’s the pride of representing the LGBTQIA+ community together for the first time that made the win much sweeter.
As Batas put it, “Lasang chocolate. Sobrang saya kasi representing the country is really a privilege and hindi makukuha na basta-basta ‘yun.”
And for the loud-and-proud Ybañez, being openly gays empower them to slay on the court just as the men do.
In his words, “Masaya ako kasi nga may kasama nga ako sa national team [in Ken] kasi ako yung nauna. Iniisip lang namin na yes, ganito kami, pero barako kami pareho sa loob ng court.
“Lalaban kami pareho.”
Fighting for their way
It was a tasteful start to what will be a three-day bootcamp for the nationals with less than 100 days left before the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship.
With a stacked and growing pool on hand, Ybañez and Batas both understand how each day that passes is yet another opportunity to fight for their national team spots and keep their respective fights for the country alive.
“Happy ako na nire-represent ko yung Philippines again as a libero and happy din ako sa position ko kasi until now, I’m still learning kasi nga hindi ko pa ganoon siya nakakapa,” the University of Santo Tomas standout said.
“Sobrang exciting siya kasi alam ko na supportahan lang. Alam ko na may mga experience na yung iba and then nung pumasok ako sa loob ng court, laruin ko lang daw yung laro ko,” said the Ateneo winger.
“Sobrang excited ako kasi first time ko ito and then, naging ready lang ako, always ready ang queen.”
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