Youthful and now healthy AC Miner is showing efficiency and strength in a converted role for the surging ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles.

Back after months of rest due to a recurring shin injury, Miner has been a vital cog in the Thunderbelles’ preseason run in the 2026 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) On Tour Showdown.

Although switched to an opposite hitter position from her natural spot as a middle blocker, the fifth overall pick in the 2025 Rookie Draft has been thriving as a winger.

“I guess I’m the most experienced playing opposite among us middles, so they switched me into this position,” said Miner, who had to sit out in the season-ending All-Filipino Conference as a precaution for health concerns.

“Overall, I just need to do my best in my job. Like continue the work I’ve been doing back as a middle now that I’m playing opposite. Just contribute on defense and offense,” she said.

The Ateneo de Manila University product has been a great contributor on offense as well as on net defense.

In ZUS Coffee’s back-to-back wins over Akari and crowd-darling Choco Mucho, Miner averaged 10 points per game providing good coverage on the opposing team’s open spikers.

She announced her return by dropping 15 points in a 25-11, 25-23, 26-28, 25-17, victory over the Akari Chargers last Wednesday in Ilagan City, Isabela.

Holding the fort while veteran opposite spiker Jovelyn Gonzaga was out, Miner scattered eight attacks with four kill blocks and two aces to join forces with another young gun, Zam Nolasco, to beat the undermanned Chargers.

The 23-year-old Miner added 10 digs for an all-around performance.

She would continue chipping in when action shifted in Batangas City last Saturday.

Miner came off the bench and scored five in the Thunderbelles’ 25-14, 25-20, 25-23, sweep of the Flying Titans in a relief role following the return of Gonzaga.

“I’m accepting it well since I’m the substitute for Ate Jov (Gonzaga),” Miner said of embracing the challenge of her new position.

“I just try to do my job and work on my floor defense since as a middle, that back row defense could be a little bit challenging. So, I have to work on that. Overall, my new role is well-accepted.”

Despite the changes in her return, the 2025 Reinforced Conference Rookie of the Conference winner was just grateful for the opportunity to be back for the team.

“Of course, it feels good to be back. It feels good to be with my teammates in the game and it’s good to represent ZUS again on the court, finally,” she said.

“I’m just very happy my recovery has been effective that’s why I’m back after just one conference.”

Although already doing great, Miner still admitted that she’s far from full health.

“I guess, including the positional change, I’d say 85 percent,” she said.

“I don’t think I’m fully recovered and fully adjusted to my new position but I’m doing my best every day to get to 100 percent that the team expects from me.”

ZUS Coffee will be idle for more than three weeks, but Miner vowed to continue working to reach her full potential,

The Thunderbelles will battle PLDT on 8 August in the City of Santiago in Isabela.