Cignal HD Spikers head coach Dexter Clamor knows that Sunday’s semifinal clash against the undefeated Criss Cross may be a non-bearing contest, but for his team, the stakes remain high.
After suffering back-to-back losses against the King Crunchers in the elimination round, the HD Spikers are determined to flip the script before their much-anticipated Finals trilogy in the 2025 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference. Clamor believes that a win—though it won’t affect their standing—will serve as a crucial morale booster heading into the title series.
“Sunday kasi is a non-bearing game, pero kailangan maipakita pa rin namin ‘yung best namin para going to the Finals, mataas ‘yung kumpyansa,” said Clamor, a five-time Spikers’ Turf champion coach.
The HD Spikers are coming off a dominant straight-set victory over Savouge, and star outside hitter Steven Rotter emphasized the importance of maintaining that momentum. With Criss Cross having had their number so far this season, Rotter and the team are keen on making adjustments and proving they can go toe-to-toe with the league leaders.
“They’re a really good team. They have our number right now, we’re just gonna have to practice hard, watch a lot of films on them, and hopefully when the time comes, we’re playing like how we played today,” said Rotter, who has been a steady force for Cignal throughout the tournament.
However, the challenge only grows steeper. Criss Cross, already an unbeaten juggernaut, now boasts an even stronger roster with the return of former Cignal ace Marck Espejo. Fresh from his stint with the Kubota Spears in Japan’s V.League, Espejo has rejoined the King Crunchers just in time for the semifinals, adding another layer of firepower to an already formidable squad.
“Paghahandaan ulit namin sila, excited kami na makalaban ulit si Marck,” Clamor shared, acknowledging the added threat posed by his former player. Having coached Espejo from 2019 to 2023, Clamor is well aware of the elite skill set the former UAAP MVP brings to the table.
For Rotter, the matchup presents an exciting challenge, one that will test the HD Spikers’ resolve against a Criss Cross team now at full strength.
“I hope to at least block him once,” Rotter quipped. “I’m excited to play against him and excited to play against a fully equipped Criss Cross team.”
