JOSH Ybañez’ transition from high-flying scorer to defensive anchor continues to pay dividends.
The Alas Pilipinas star earned Best Libero honors in Leg 1 of the 2026 SEA V.Cup in Candon City, becoming the first from the Nationals to be feted in back-to-back legs after claiming the same nod in Leg 2 of last year’s tournament in Jakarta.
READ Alas Men sweeps Myanmar to end SEA V.Cup home leg at fifth
For Ybanez, it was another validation of a positional shift for flag and country that has quickly turned into a success story, wasting little time establishing himself as one of the region’s elite liberos.
The citation was his second individual award since embracing the position full-time, proving that the switch has done little to slow his rise on the international stage.
Ybanez was again the backbone of Alas Men’s floor defense throughout the weeklong tournament, delivering in receptions and digs as the only libero fielded by head coach Angiolino Frigoni in all three games played.
The first-leg hosts wound up fifth in the six-team showpiece after missing the semifinals, but avoided a winless finish by sweeping Myanmar in their final assignment before the competition heads to Jakarta for the second leg.
The individual plum provided another bright spot for Ybañez, who also became a three-time SEA V.Cup bronze medalist.
With another Best Libero trophy tucked under his belt, Ybañez now turns his focus to Leg 2 from July 22 to 26 in Jakarta, where Alas Men looks to mount a stronger challenge against Southeast Asia’s best.
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