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 VNS–Laticrete Griffins.
History
editVolleyball 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
edit- 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)
- VNS–One Alicia Griffins (2022)
- VNS–Nasty (2024 Open)
- VNS–Laticrete (2024–2026)
- VNS-Always Bright Laticrete (2026-present
Current roster
edit| 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
editTeam
editSpikers' 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
- 1 2 3 with the Premier Volleyball League[11]
PNVF:
| Season | Placement | Ref. |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3rd place | [3] |
| 2022 | 9th place | |
| 2023 | 3rd place | [12] |
| 2024 | 4th place | [13] |
Individual
editSpikers' Turf/Premier Volleyball League:
| Season | Conference | Award | Name | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Open | 2nd Best Outside Spiker | John Benedict San Andres | [14] |
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] |
Team Captains
editCoaches
editExternal links
editReferences
edit- 1 2 "Volleyball Never Stops partners with Café Lupe". ABS-CBN Sports. May 22, 2017. Archived from the original on 28 May 2017. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
- ↑ Ulanday, John Bryan (30 November 2021). "Aguilas soar over Manileño". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
- 1 2 Micaller, Bea (4 December 2021). "Manileño Spikers sweep Global Remit, cop bronze in PNVF Champions League men's tilt". GMA News. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
- ↑ Dannug, Jonash (13 November 2025). "Ralph Ocampo continues to guide next gen in VNS". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
- ↑ "Spikers' Turf: Power hitters go for crown". Manila Bulletin. December 11, 2018. Archived from the original on December 14, 2018. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
- ↑ "Air Force rallies past VNS in 5". Spikers' Turf. April 26, 2024. Archived from the original on April 26, 2024. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
- ↑ "DLSU Ecooil salvages fifth place, dominates VNS". Spikers' Turf. December 1, 2024. Archived from the original on December 1, 2024. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
- ↑ "Savouge claims bronze, sets sights on higher goals". Spikers' Turf. April 4, 2025. Archived from the original on April 4, 2025. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
- ↑ "Dolor shines as PGJC-Navy avoids winless finish, repels VNS". Spikers' Turf. November 16, 2025. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
- ↑ "Alpha Insurance snaps skid, dominates VNS to close elims strong". Spikers' Turf. March 27, 2026. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
- Tarinay, Anna Reinette (October 3, 2018). "Spikers' Turf unwraps with Open Conference". BusinessMirror. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
- ↑ "Letran, VNS cop bronze medal in PNVF Challenge Cup". Tiebreaker Times. 26 November 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
- ↑ Bautista, Ohmer (February 17, 2023). "CSB Blazers subdue VNS Asereht Griffins, clinch PNVF bronze". One Sports. Archived from the original on February 17, 2024. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
- ↑ Agcaoili, Lance (October 1, 2022). "Nationals' Nico Almendras wins Spikers' Turf MVP award". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
- ↑ Dannug, Jonash (4 December 2021). "Dasma's Mark Calado hailed as PNVFCL MVP". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
- ↑ Malanum, Jean (November 26, 2023). "UST, CSB pocket PNVF Challenge Cup titles". Philippine News Agency. Archived from the original on March 19, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
- ↑ Bautista, Ohmer (February 17, 2023). "Cignal's Jau Umandal cops PNVF Champions League MVP award". One Sports. Archived from the original on February 17, 2024. Retrieved February 17, 2023.