The VNS Griffins may be bringing in a younger lineup, but they're manifesting a finals appearance this conference.
After a year of sitting out due to an injury, two-time UAAP men's volleyball champion Ron Medalla is ready to come back with a vengeance for the VNS Griffins in the 2023 Spikers' Turf Open Conference.
The wing spiker from Ateneo, however, admits he's feeling mixed emotions in his return.
"Siguro sad and happy. Sad because maglalaro ako, but feeling ko incomplete ako because of my injury," he told One Sports during the team photoshoot on Tuesday. "Happy naman because after one year, makakabalik ako sa first love ko, which is volleyball."
Medalla had hurt his left knee during the PNVF Champions League for Men back in November 2021.
The Griffins are entering the Spikers' Turf, which starts this Sunday at the Paco Arena, with mixed emotions themselves.
They're bannering much younger players, with the absence of the stalwarts who led them to a fourth place finish last season.
Ish Polvorosa and Kim Malabunga are now in Imus, Kevin Montemayor and Yong Mendoza are in Sta. Rosa, while Alfred Pagulong will be suiting up for the Philippine Navy. Ben San Andres, Michael Christian Doria, Sean Oliver, and Roniey Adviento are focusing on their NCAA campaign, while Jeremy Merat flew back to the United States.
But looking on the bright side, the VNS is bringing in NCAA beach volleyball champion Pemie Bagalay as the new team captain. The NCAA all-time scoring record holder (45 points) is expected to bring plenty of firepower to the young team.
"Mabilis naman silang turuan," libero Joshua Cruz told One Sports, but admits it won't be easy to compete with an increased field of eleven teams. "Dadaan sa maliit na butas ng karayom siguro."
Cruz though is not afraid to make a bold prediction for VNS, "Pagpapatuloy lang namin 'yung ginagawa namin para makapasok ulit sa semis. Kung papalarin man kami, ayun, kine-claim na namin na papasok kami sa finals."