VNS Griffins
Professional men's volleyball team in the Philippines
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Volleyball Never Stops Griffins, commonly known as the VNS Griffins, are a Philippine professional men's volleyball team. The team competes in Spikers' Turf, where they have played since 2016.
| |||
| Full name | VNS Volleyball Club Griffins | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Short name | VNS | ||
| Nickname | Griffins | ||
| Founded | 2013 | ||
| Head coach | Ralph Ocampo | ||
| Captain | John Joshua Cruz | ||
| League | Spikers' Turf (Premier Volleyball League) | ||
| 2026 Open | 6th place | ||
| Uniforms | |||
| |||
The team was founded in 2013 as a way for collegiate players to be able to play competitive volleyball after graduating. For sponsorship reasons, the team is also known as the VNSâLaticrete Griffins.
History
Volleyball Never Stops or VNS was established in 2013 by a group of team captains who played volleyball either at the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) or the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as a means to be still able to play competitive volleyball even after they graduated from college. At the time, there was no preeminent men's volleyball league in the country, and neither the Philippine Super Liga nor Shakey's V-League have set-up their respective men's divisions (both were established in 2014). VNS often took part in exhibition games and various minor tournaments and were joined in by other UAAP and NCAA graduates.[1]
In 2016, they were invited to take part in the semi-professional men's volleyball league, Spikers' Turf. They played under the name of their sponsor Bounty Fresh in their debut at the 2016 Open Conference. For the season-ending 2016 Reinforced Conference, they under the banner of another sponsor as the 100 Plus Active Spikers. In 2017, they joined the Premier Volleyball League, and took part as the Café Lupe Sunrisers for the whole 2017 season.[1]
They would return to the Spiker's Turf in 2018 as the Fury Blazing Hitters. In 2019, they played as the VNS Griffins.
In 2021, VNS would take part in the 2021 PNVF Champions League as the Manileño Spikers.[2] The Spikes clinched the bronze medal in the tournament, defeating Global Remit in the third place play off.[3]
As of 2025, VNS is still known for drawing its players mostly from newly graduated college players although they are reinforced by more experienced players.[4]
Name changes
- Bounty Fresh (2016 Open)
- 100 Plus Active Spikers (2016 Reinforced)
- Café Lupe Sunrisers (2017)
- Fury Blazing Hitters (2018)
- VNS Volleyball Club Griffins (2019, 2023)
- Manileño Spikers (2021)
- VNSâOne Alicia Griffins (2022)
- VNSâNasty (2024 Open)
- VNSâLaticrete (2024â2026)
- VNS-Always Bright Laticrete (2026-present
Current roster
| VNS Laticrete | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Player | Position | School |
| 1 | Kimmy Liray | Outside Hitter | |
| 2 | Joshua Cruz | Libero | |
| 3 | Howard Guerra | Setter | |
| 4 | Klause Dais | Setter | |
| 5 | Andrei Bakil | Middle Blocker | |
| 6 | Axel Book | Outside Hitter | |
| 7 | Jayvee Sumagaysay | Middle Blocker | UST |
| 8 | Mike Ferrer | Middle Blocker | |
| 9 | Mohammad Sedique Patadon | Libero | |
| 10 | Jimwel Stephen Guerra | Setter | |
| 11 | Terrence Marticion | Outside Hitter | |
| 12 | Julius Jao Arcillo | Outside Hitter | |
| 13 | Kevin Montemayor | Opposite Hitter | |
| 14 | Titus Villacrusis | Middle Blocker | |
| 15 | Roderick Medino | Opposite Hitter | |
| 16 | Jerremy Pedrosa (C) | Opposite Hitter | |
| 19 | John Diwa | Middle Blocker | |
| 20 | John Derrick Bautista | Outside Hitter | |
| 22 | Al Cordero | Middle Blocker | |
| 23 | Aidjien Rus | Libero | |
- Head coach: Ralph Raymond Ocampo
- Assistant coach: John Patrick De Guzman
Honors
Team
Spikers' Turf/Premier Volleyball League:
| Season | Conference | Title | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Open | 5th place | |
| Reinforced | 6th place | ||
| 2017 | Reinforced[a] | 6th place | |
| Open[a] | 8th place | ||
| 2018 | Reinforced [a] | did not compete | |
| Open | 9th place | [5] | |
| 2019 | Reinforced | 9th place | |
| Open | 11th place | ||
| 2022 | Open | 4th place | |
| 2023 | Open | 5th place | |
| Invitational | 10th place | ||
| 2024 | Open | 6th place | [6] |
| Invitational | 8th place | [7] | |
| 2025 | Open | 4th place | [8] |
| Invitational | 9th place | [9] | |
| 2026 | Open | 6th place | [10] |
- Notes
- with the Premier Volleyball League[11]
PNVF:
Individual
Spikers' Turf/Premier Volleyball League:
PNVF:
| Season | Conference | Award | Name | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Champions League | 2nd Best Middle Blocker | Rwenzmel Taguibolos | [15] |
| 2023 | Challenge Cup | Best Setter | Jerome Lopez | [16] |
| 2024 | Champions League | Best Opposite Spiker | Kevin Montemayor | [17] |