In the heat of battle between Criss Cross and Cignal, Noel Kampton found himself smiling — not out of arrogance or relief, but out of pure nostalgia. It wasn’t just another Spikers’ Turf showdown for the former De La Salle University star; it was a reunion.
As he looked across the net at familiar faces — former Green Spikers teammates JM Ronquillo and Vince Maglinao in Cignal colors — and shared the floor with fellow La Salle products Eco Adajar and Menard Guerrero, Kampton couldn’t help but feel a swell of pride. Five former Green Spikers, now key figures in the league, going head-to-head under brighter lights.
“Sobrang happy lang sa'kin. Kanina nga dito, sabay kami ni Vince (Maglinao) nag-park. Nagkwentuhan lang kami, pinagusapan namin ‘yung La Salle [days] namin,” Kampton said with a grin. “Sinasabi ko talaga sa kanya na proud na proud ako na nasa Cignal siya.”
For Kampton, the night was more than just a test of skill and rivalry — it was a celebration of how far they’ve all come since their collegiate days.
“Kasi alam mo ‘yun, hindi ako ‘yung teammate na gusto ko ako lang ‘yung aangat,” he shared. “Masaya ako na nakita ko ‘yung teammates ko na nandito rin sa Spikers’ Turf, kami kami rin ‘yung naglalaban. Sobrang proud lang ako.”
And that pride reflected in his game. Feeding off the emotion and familiarity of the matchup, Kampton came through with 16 points built entirely on attacks, along with 11 excellent receptions, to lead Criss Cross past defending champion Cignal in four sets, 25-23, 24-26, 25-22, 25-18.
With the victory, the King Crunchers remained the lone unbeaten squad in the 2025 Spikers’ Turf Invitational — a testament to both their cohesion and Kampton’s rising confidence under new leadership.
The move to Criss Cross has given Kampton a fresh start, one guided by none other than celebrated coach Tai Bundit. For the high-flying open spiker, Bundit’s belief in him has been both grounding and empowering.
“‘Di ba ‘yung fourth set parang nawala na ‘yung laro ko, sinasabi niya lang sa’kin na, ‘You’re okay, you’re okay.’ Okay lang daw ‘yung nilalaro ko kahit pangit talaga,” Kampton recalled.
“Masarap din sa feeling na ‘yung kumpyansa ko, nakukuha ko [sa kanya] talaga. Like sobrang saya si Coach Tai — hindi lang si Coach Tai, lahat ng Criss Cross masaya talaga.”
