The UST Golden Spikers. Photo by Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News.

MANILA — The UST Golden Spikers have successfully booked their return ticket to the UAAP men's volleyball Finals.

The España-based squad, seeded fourth in the semis, did so after taking down the league's top team in the elimination round -- the Far Eastern University Tamaraws -- in their Final 4 clash. Working wonders for them was the trio of Josh Ybañez, Gboy De Vega, and Sherwin Umandal.

Ybañez poured in 19 points, 13 receptions, and six digs in the Golden Spikers' four-set win on Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum.  

READ: UST completes historic upset of FEU, sets up Finals rematch vs. NU

And now that they are back in the championship round, Ybañez said that he will be using the lessons from last year's Finals as they look to clinch the title.

"Siguro last season, personally, ang natutunan ko is being open for new learnings and instructions," he told ABS-CBN News just before he returned to their dugout at the Araneta Coliseum.

UST’s Josh Ybañez. Photo from UAAP Media.

The Golden Spikers will be taking on the defending champion National University Bulldogs in the best-of-3 series that starts on Saturday. In Season 85, the Bulldogs swept UST in two games, behind the superb playmaking of Owa Retamar.

"That time, aminado ako na sobrang resistant ko sa mga coaches kasi naiisip ko na pag nakikinig ako sa kanila, tinatalakan lang ako. Masyado akong nape-pressure," Ybañez said as he looked back on last season's series.

"Pero ngayon, yun yung binago ko, and yun yung mga bagay na gusto kong ma-improve, yung makinig sa mga coaches. Of course lahat ng sinasabi nila ay may sense, and para lang sa akin," he continued.

Aside from this, their defeat itself also serves as added motivation, bared Ybañez.

"May pinanghuhugutan kami, yung last season na Finals. Since kami pa rin mag haharap, siguro that's enough reason for us na 'di na pumayag na ganun pa rin result, na silver medalist lang kami," he said.

They will also bank on their two elimination wins over NU, and according to Ybañez, they must maintain those showings if they want to spoil the party of the four-peat-seeking Bulldogs. UST swept National U in the first round before pulling off a five-set win in the second.

"Ang mindset namin ay yung mindset namin before, yung mindset namin nung elimination round," shared Ybañez.

"We should have the eagerness na manalo, andoon dapat yung aggressiveness, but at the same time, kalmado lang. Yun yung mga ginawa namin kung bakit kami nanalo sa NU twice noong elimination round," he continued.

Ybañez also expressed his delight with UST's men's and women's volleyball teams being able to enter the finals stage in the same season.

"I'm so happy na sumabay kami sa women's sa Finals. Girls, sisters, congrats na in advance and goodluck. Alam kong kaya niyo ngayon, sobrang laki ng tiwala ko sa inyo, I love you guys," he said, while also showing gratefulness to their fellow Thomasians.

READ: UST ousts La Salle, returns to UAAP women's volleyball Finals

"Sa UST community, thank you po sa walang sawang suporta sa amin. Thank you sa hindi pag duda samin, sa pag tiwala, and ilalaban po namin 'to hanggang dulo not just for the team, our coaches, and our families, but para din sa inyo," expressed Ybañez.

"We'll do our best para ibalik ang korona sa España," he ended.

RELATED VIDEO: