In the heat of competition, moments of true sportsmanship stand out—and last Sunday, Alpha Insurance head coach Mike Santos delivered one such moment that went beyond the Xs and Os of volleyball.
Locked in a tense opening-set battle against VNS-Laticrete in the 2025 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference, Santos’ focus drifted toward an unusual scene at the far end of the opposing bench. Sixteen-year-old RK Medino, a steady force for the Griffins in their first three outings, wasn’t preparing to check in. Instead, he was lying on the floor, grimacing in pain as a teammate desperately worked to loosen his stiffened back muscles.
The promising young middle blocker was suffering from back spasms, leaving him unable to even attempt a jump.
“Meron siyang back spasms eh. So hindi siya makatalon,” VNS head coach Ralph Ocampo explained.
Despite Medino’s absence, the Griffins refused to back down. In a battle of two winless teams desperate to break into the win column, VNS fought through the adversity, executing under pressure to claim a hard-fought first set.
But on the other side of the net, Santos was already making a move that had nothing to do with tactics.
Before the start of the second set, the veteran coach gathered his squad for a quick huddle—then discreetly pulled Alpha Insurance physical therapist Grace Gomez aside. With a few gestures toward the VNS bench, he sent a clear message: help the injured kid.
“Sobrang bait ng Alpha. Si coach Mike (Santos) is coach ko before, coach ko siya so nung sumakit ‘yung likod ni RK (Medino), nakita ni coach Mike. In good deed, sinabi niya na may PT kami, baka gusto mong i-rehab natin,” Ocampo shared, touched by the gesture from his former mentor.
Thanks to the extra attention, Medino found enough relief to return in the fourth set. While still limited in movement, his 6-foot-3 presence at the net provided a much-needed boost, helping the Griffins secure their first victory of the tournament—a gritty 25-21, 25-23, 19-25, 25-23 win over Alpha Insurance.
“Sabi ko lang sa kanya nung fourth set, kahit mag-block ka lang kasi medyo hirap siya,” Ocampo said.
After the final whistle, as Santos met Ocampo at center court for the post-game handshake, he did more than just offer a professional nod. He clapped heartily, congratulating his former player with genuine pride before turning his attention to VNS’ young guns—including Player of the Game CJ Segui, who erupted for 28 points—to give them well-earned praise.
“Nakaka-overwhelm na nakakalaban mo ‘yung mga coach mo. Syempre we look up to them, tulad ako I’m not gonna be this coach kung wala ‘yung naging coach ko. Salamat sa mga experience na binigay nila sa akin,” Ocampo reflected.
