Criss Cross showcased its undeniable superiority in firepower, defense and overall team cohesion, blasting a depleted Alpha Insurance side, 25-10, 25-12, 25-11, to keep its unbeaten run intact at the start of the second round of the 2025 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference on Sunday at the Ynares Sports Arena.
The King Crunchers dominated every aspect of the match, imposing their will from start to finish against the undermanned Protectors, who sorely missed top scorers Vincent Nadera, Edward Camposano and JJ Javelona.
Criss Cross wasted no time asserting control, completing the swift 54-minute dismantling of Alpha Insurance – a win that followed their stunning sweep of defending champion Cignal HD Spikers to close out the first-round eliminations with a five-game sweep.
Jude Garcia starred for Criss Cross, erupting for 13 points built on seven attacks, five kill blocks and an ace. He complemented his offensive brilliance with stellar floor defense, tallying eight excellent receptions to anchor the King Crunchers’ smooth execution.
Providing solid backup was Jaron Requinton, who has consistently delivered double-digit outputs in all six of the team’s matches. He finished with 12 markers, converting 10 of his 13 attack attempts with remarkable efficiency while adding an ace and a block.
Chu Njigha and Gian Glorioso further bolstered Criss Cross' net defense, chipping in seven points apiece.
“We’re so happy that we won our first game of the second round. I’m also glad that all my teammates were able to play on the court, and everyone got a chance to contribute. That made me really happy,” said Requinton in Filipino.
“But we can’t afford to be complacent despite our 6-0 record because now, in the second round, our opponents know us better. There’s always a chance they could bounce back,” he added.
Criss Cross’ dominance was evident across all departments. The King Crunchers tallied 43 kills, 14 kill blocks and three service aces while limiting Alpha Insurance to just 18 attack points, two blocks and zero aces.
Orchestrating the King Crunchers’ seamless offense was setter Ish Polvorosa, who finished with 12 excellent sets, while Manuel Sumanguidd provided floor coverage with seven excellent receptions and six excellent digs.
Supporting the charge were Nico Almendras, Pemmie Bagalay and Rex Intal, who contributed four points each.
With its commanding victory, Criss Cross kept its unbeaten record intact heading into its second-round clash against VNS-Laticrete on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.
Meanwhile, Alpha Insurance, which stunned PGJC-Navy in its previous outing, fell to its fifth loss in six games.
Fielding a depleted roster, the Protectors leaned on Francis Casas, who scored four points, while Reymond Sabanal and Kernel Ipulan managed three points each.
Alpha Insurance hopes to bounce back against PGJC-Navy in their 1 p.m. matchup on Wednesday.
