24/09/2025
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๐๐๐๐๐๐ | ๐๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ญ, ๐๐๐รฑ๐๐ณ ๐๐จ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ญ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ
From the city that raised a legend in the boxing ropes rises a new name etched on the volleyball nets of the world stage.
Joshua โJoshโ Ybaรฑez, a 22-year-old student-athlete from Brgy. Labangal, General Santos City, stood his ground as Alas Pilipinasโ libero in the 2025 FIVB Menโs World Championship pool phase, emerging as the fifth best receiver and seventh best digger, guarding the court at the cusp of Philippine volleyball history.
From a wide-eyed dreamer molded by the Special Program in Sports at Labangal National High School to a certified collegiate phenom, Ybaรฑezโs journey has been a masterclass in hard work and heart. He exploded onto the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) scene in Season 85, etching his name in history as both Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player (MVP); a rare double that turned him from promising newcomer to instant headline-maker.
Season 86 proved that his breakout year was no fluke, Ybaรฑez defended his MVP crown and made history again as the leagueโs Best Opposite Hitter, showcasing the evolution of his game. Then, as if to silence any remaining doubters, he took his talent beyond the collegiate ranks, switching roles to claim the Best Libero award in the SEA V.Leagueโs second leg in Jakartaโa testament to his adaptability and his growing reputation as one of the most complete players in the sport.
Starting from GenSanโs sandy courts to the worldโs brightest arenas, Ybaรฑez has turned raw beginnings into a career that now dives and digs on the world stage. Yet his journey isnโt just his own.
Behind the accolades is the enduring legacy of a city that has long produced champions. For GenSan, a city defined for decades by Manny Pacquiaoโs fists, the volleyball prodigy represents a new sporting narrative. โPambansang Kamaoโ may always be its crown jewel, but Ybaรฑez proves the city doesnโt just raise fighters as it also raises champions in every arena and now stretches across a new generation of athletes. Where Pacquiao once carried the pride of GenSan in boxing gloves, Ybaรฑez now carries it in dives and digs.
He is a testament to what the Philippines can achieve when young athletes are nurtured instead of confined to local courts. His journey proves that with the right support, discipline, and opportunity, Filipino talent can shine in international courts where the best of the best collide.
And in Alas Pilipinasโ historic rally during their debut on the world stage, Ybaรฑez carved his own significance alongside the teamโs marvels. Their grit lifted the country nine rungs higher in the global rankings from No. 89 to No. 80, a leap that spoke louder than any medal. Even in defeat against Iran in a heart-stopping five-set duel, the Philippines proved it was no longer an underdog but a nation rising from the shadows to claim its place on volleyballโs world map.
In every receive and defense, Josh Ybaรฑez carries the story of a city and a nation on the rise. From the courts of Labangal to national and international podiums, he nets the mantra of General Santos as home of the champions, carrying the legacy of global glory into volleyball power.
โ๏ธ Princess Grace Tesnado
๐จ Ashley Perez
