Criss Cross took the best shot from last year’s champions and fired back with even greater force, overpowering Cignal with a 19-25, 25-14, 25-20, 25-19 victory to all but complete a sweep of the two-round eliminations in the Spikers’ Turf Open Conference at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig on Thursday night.
The King Crunchers shook off a late meltdown in the opening set – where they had controlled most of the action – before unleashing their firepower in the next three frames. Their dominant display marked a repeat performance against the defending champions, whom they swept in their first-round showdown last week.
At the heart of Criss Cross’s commanding victory were libero Manuel Sumanguid’s rock-solid defense and Ish Polvorosa’s brilliant orchestration, turning every possession into a scoring opportunity. With precision passing and quick decision-making, Polvorosa masterfully fed hitters from both the wings and the middle, creating unchallenged opportunities for Jude Garcia, Nico Almendras and Jaron Requinton while also setting up Kim Malabunga and Gian Glorioso for lightning-fast quick attacks.
The win thus extended the King Crunchers’ streak to eight, bringing them just two victories away from a perfect eliminations campaign in the tournament organized by Sports Vision and supported by Arena Plus and Mikasa. They will next face the Savouge Spin Doctors on Sunday before clashing with the Navy Sealions on Wednesday.
From the looks of it, an unblemished eliminations run is well within reach for the heavy-hitting King Crunchers, who are hungry to claim their long-awaited championship after two runner-up finishes against the HD Spikers last season.
"The team just worked really hard. Even though we lost the first set, we quickly moved on and focused on the next. I told them, ‘It’s the second set now, let’s just lock in and play our game,’” said Criss Cross’ Jaron Requinton in Filipino, who delivered a flawless 18 points, all on attacks.
Criss Cross turned up the heat in the fourth set, with Requinton, Glorioso, Almendras and Malabunga combining in a decisive run that pushed them to a commanding 15-8 lead, sealing a smooth path to their one-hour, 51-minute victory.
Garcia, the back-to-back MVP, matched Requinton’s offensive output with 18 points, while also contributing 16 excellent receptions. Almendras was equally impressive, finishing with 14 points and seven excellent digs.
Criss Cross’s middle blockers made their presence felt, as Glorioso and Malabunga delivered 13 and 10 points, respectively.
Sumanguid, on the other hand, stood tall with 16 excellent digs and 16 receptions, while Polvorosa orchestrated the attack masterfully with 28 excellent sets, highlighting another standout performance.
Meanwhile, Cignal suffered its second loss (6-2) despite a 17-point effort from Steven Rotter. JP Bugaoan chipped in 14 points, while Jau Umandal, returning from a two-game absence due to a hyperextended knee, contributed nine points before exiting early in the fourth set with visible discomfort. He did not return to the game.
Wendel Miguel, who scored 15 points against Criss Cross in their first-round encounter, struggled mightily this time, managing just a single point.
The HD Spikers will aim to bounce back when they face the Navy Sealions tomorrow.
Criss Cross turned what had been a tight duel for control in the pivotal set into another dominant display, shutting down the HD Spikers’ wingmen with relentless blocking while maintaining aggression across all skill areas.
Locked at 8-all, the King Crunchers unleashed a four-point barrage, highlighted by a Malabunga ace, to seize momentum. A crucial setting error from Cignal halted its brief two-point response, allowing Criss Cross to push ahead 17-12 behind a powerful Requinton hit.
From there, the King Crunchers never looked back. Jude Garcia fired cannonball blasts, while their entire offensive arsenal overwhelmed Cignal, whose attacks were repeatedly neutralized by Criss Cross’ suffocating net defense.
A blistering Almendras kill and a vicious Requinton strike off a combination play sealed the set for the King Crunchers, whose 18 attack points were simply too much for the defending champions. Cignal, struggling to break through, managed just 11 hits, further emphasizing Criss Cross’ commanding performance.
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