GBoy De Vega took the center stage in his first game back as a starter for the University of Santo Tomas Golden Spikers against the National University Bulldogs in the first game of their UAAP Season 87 men’s volleyball tournament semifinal matchup, on Saturday, May 3, at the Araneta Coliseum.

The game saw the Golden Spikers force a rubber match after upsetting the Jhocson-based squad in four sets, 26-24, 27-25, 19-25, 25-18.

De Vega, who last started for UST in their win against the Adamson University Soaring Falcons on March 1, tallied 14 points off 13 attacks and a service ace, to reinforce Josh Ybañez’s 22 markers in the win over NU.

“Siyempre, thank you kasi binigyan ulit ako ng chance nila coach na makabalik at ma-prove ‘yung doubters ko na [mali silang] hindi ako makakatulong sa team,” De Vega said.

“I’m very happy lang na nakapag-contribute ako sa madaming ways and I hope na mas mapagtrabahuan ko pa ‘yun [at] mas pag-ensayuhan ko pa para sa next game mas okay ‘yung [ma]pakita ko,” he added.

De Vega and Ybañez, who had been UST’s dynamic duo for the past three seasons, were unexpectedly broken up after the reigning MVP suffered an ankle injury. It was followed by UST head coach Odjie Mamon’s decision to replace De Vega with super rookie JJ Macam in the starting lineup.

Mamon shared that with the endorsement of his coaching staff, they decided to put GBoy back in the starting line-up.

“[Hindi siya] panggulat but tiwala ako kasi GBoy played in two championships already, so with the endorsement also of the coaching staff, we decided to field in GBoy, and we also have Alche [Gupiteo] in the roster,” Mamon said.

“So ‘yun lang, maganda naman yung [naging] resulta,” he added.

Mamon also acknowledged that they've kept their championship hopes alive with this win, but believes that the team still has a better performance to offer.

De Vega, Ybañez, and the rest of the Golden Spikers will face the Bulldogs once again in hopes of entering the finals for the third straight season on Wednesday, May 7, in the same venue.