Criss Cross stormed into the Spikers’ Turf Open Conference finals in dominant fashion, capping a flawless 13-game run with a hard-fought 25-27, 25-21, 25-21, 26-24 victory over the same team it will face in the best-of-three championship series starting Wednesday.
The King Crunchers will not only bring an undefeated record and momentum into the Finals trilogy but also a significant psychological edge, having defeated the Cignal HD Spikers three times this conference.
After dropping a thrilling opening set, Criss Cross regrouped and reasserted its dominance. They took the second set convincingly, then erased an early four-point deficit in the pivotal third with a decisive mid-set surge to seize control.
The fourth set was an intense, back-and-forth showdown punctuated by fiery staredowns – before the King Crunchers surged ahead late, sealing the victory and closing out the single-round semifinal phase at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
For Ish Polvorosa however, who steered the King Crunchers in the two hour and eight-minute triumph with 27 excellent sets and one point, Criss Cross will adapt a ‘back-to-zero’ mentality as they eye to claim their first title in the league organized by Sports Vision and supported by ArenaPlus and Mikasa.
“Kami, these 13 games, they are all erased. I do not care what happened in the last 13 games. I am looking forward and very focused on the fact that we are going to the finals. Yung two or three games na ‘yon sa Finals, ‘yon talaga yung pinakaimportante. It all boils down there. We’re gonna take it one game and one day at a time. Yung ganoong mindset, I think doon kami makakakuha ng progress to our goal of winning the championship,” said Polvorosa.
Though billed as a non-bearing match, with both teams already securing finals berths last week, the King Crunchers and the HD Spikers battled as if the championship was on the line – much to the delight of the fans. The thrilling exchange of power hits, clutch digs and scrambling saves kept the intensity high at endgame, while challenges added another layer of drama and suspense.
In the end, the outcome mirrored their previous two encounters, with Criss Cross once again prevailing. The King Crunchers now march into the finals with a flawless 13-0 record, while Cignal settled for a 10-3 slate.
In a fiercely contested fourth-set battle, the King Crunchers held their ground against consecutive down-the-line strikes from Steven Rotter that broke a 21-all deadlock. Responding with a powerful crosscourt hit and a crucial block from Nico Almendras, they edged closer to victory at 24-23.
However, a critical service error by Polvorosa pushed the set into extended play. Jaron Requinton then stepped up, delivering a precise down-the-line attack to reclaim the lead for the King Crunchers.
The match reached a dramatic climax when referees initially ruled HD Spiker JP Bugaoan’s quick attack as inside in the ensuing play. A ball-in/ball-out challenge by Criss Cross overturned the call, awarding the point to the King Crunchers.
Cignal attempted a block touch challenge in a last-ditch effort, but the referees upheld their decision, sealing a hard-fought victory for the King Crunchers.
“I think ‘yon lang yung nagsuccess today for us -- the momentum and the pride -- parang tune-up game lang siya and nagbasahan lang kami kung paano kami makakapaglaro and makakapagprepare for the finals. But it is still important that we won today kasi yung pride, honor, and momentum nga dala namin for the finals,” Polvorosa added.
Though Japan League veteran Marck Espejo saw limited action, his teammates rose to the occasion, fueled by Polvorosa’s steady playmaking. His orchestration enabled three Criss Cross players to score in double figures, with Jude Garcia leading the charge with 19 points off 17 attacks and two blocks, along with six excellent digs. Almendras and Jaron Requinton provided ample support, contributing 15 and 14 points, respectively.
Gian Glorioso and Kim Malabunga chipped in nine points each for the King Crunchers.
On the other side, the HD Spikers concluded the semis with a 2-1 win-loss card.
Rotter scored 18 points, including 17 attacks, while Wendel Miguel contributed 13 points on 10 attacks and three blocks with six excellent digs. Lloyd Josafat added 11 points.
Despite being benched for EJ Casana for majority of the third set and the entirety of the fourth frame, Joshua Retamar still dished out 16 excellent sets.
With an unblemished record and a hunger for redemption, the King Crunchers are now just two wins away from ultimate glory – on the brink of a flawless championship run.
