Savouge came into the 2026 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference as the biggest threat to Criss Cross’ championship bid. But when the two contenders finally faced off in the elimination round, Savouge fell short, offering little resistance in what many expected to be a tournament-defining clash.
The Spin Doctors absorbed back-to-back defeats to the King Crunchers — a 25-23, 29-27, 25-17 loss to close the first round, followed by a 25-21, 25-19, 20-25, 25-19 setback to open the second. The results sparked questions about whether Savouge’s early momentum was beginning to waver as the conference progressed.
Amid the uncertainty, veteran middle blocker JP Bugaoan stepped up, rallying the team to refocus and look beyond the losses. “Ang lagi kong sinasabi sa kanila pag natatalo is move forward kasi nangyari na kung ano ‘yung nangyari,” said Bugaoan, who, alongside Louie Ramirez, Joeven Dela Vega, Kim Dayandante, and KC Andrade, is one of the team’s newest additions. “Kung ano ‘yung next, ‘yun ‘yung kailangan namin isipin.”
And move forward they did. Savouge returned to the court with renewed urgency, dismantling 3B in a commanding straight-set victory, 25-8, 25-13, 25-13, to secure a spot in the round-robin semifinals on Wednesday at the Filoil Centre.
“Eager kami na makabawi kasi ‘yun nga, tough loss sa magkasunod na game namin sa Criss Cross. So gusto namin na pagdating ng bawat game namin is ‘yung intensity pataas ng pataas,” said Bugaoan, who tallied 10 points in just two sets against the Event Masters.
For Bugaoan, the team’s response to adversity was a source of pride. The defeats, rather than dampen their spirits, only sharpened their focus and fueled their intensity in the lead-up to the final stretch of the eliminations.
“Yung morale ng team, mas naging eager na bumawi. So kada training namin talagang bakbakan, binibigay ‘yung 101 percent para makabaw sa mga game namin na natitira,” he said.
