Criss Cross maintained its unblemished record after five outings, all thanks to setter Adrian Villados’ superb playmaking as the reigning champion continued to flex its depth and firepower in the 2026 Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference.
Villados’ familiarity with his teammates, great decision-making, and attention to detail carried the King Crunchers to back-to-back victories over top contender National University-Archipelago Builders and AEP-Cabstars.
With the heady playmaker at the helm, Criss Cross left the Playtime Filoil Centre on Wednesday brimming with confidence after defeating the V-League champions Bulldogs in a heavyweight clash.
Although the King Crunchers have ruled the previous two conferences of the men’s pioneering league organized by Sports Vision, the collegiate Bulldogs are no pushovers with main gunners and Alas Pilipinas members Leo Ordiales and Buds Buddin.
Villados paid extra attention to NU-Archipelago Builders before their match, and his due diligence paid off as Criss Cross rallied from a set down to humble the Bulldogs, 23-25, 25-16, 25-20, 25-20.
The 2025 Invitational Tournament Finals Most Valuable Player showed mastery in his craft, tossing 38 excellent sets against the erstwhile unbeaten collegiate powerhouse while scoring three points.
“Given na talagang most of them sa NU national team players and tall blockers, tall spikers. Mataas na rin ‘yung level ng experience nila. Ginawa lang talaga namin ‘yung best namin and magandang boost ito para sa next game namin. Magandang lesson din ‘yung mga lapses namin,” said Villados.
He followed it up with another great outing, dishing out 18 excellent sets in a cakewalk over AEP-Cabstars, 25-15, 25-12, 25-20, last Sunday.
His outstanding performances earned Villados a landslide vote to bag the Spikers’ Turf Press Corps Player of the Week for the period of November 3 to 8.
Against the ‘six-peat’ UAAP champions, the 26-year-old playmaker orchestrated their offense, which led to three players in double figures, with Jude Garcia making 24 points, Jaron Requinton tallying 19, and Noel Kampton producing 14.
He also effectively activated middle blockers Lloyd Josafat and Kim Malabunga to contribute with nine and eight points, respectively.
It was mission accomplished for Villados, who took note of how organized and efficient the blocking of NU-Archipelago Builders.
“‘Yung NU talaga blocking is blocking so ang mindset ko lang ay magkaroon ng kumpyansa ‘yung mga spikers ko and bigyan sila ng space para sa mga blockers na marami silang options kung saan dadalhin ‘yung bola. Tiwala lang din sa sistema ni Coach Tai,” shared the 2026 PVL Press Corps Awards Best Setter.
Meanwhile, against the Cabstars, Villados showed familiarity with all his teammates, even the seldom-used ones, as Francis Saura took over the scoring chores with 13 points.
Villados edged out teammate Garcia, FEU-DN Steel’s Charles Absin, Alpha Insurance’s Van Book and Lance De Castro, Savouge’s Mark Calado and Joeven Dela Vega, and VNS-Laticrete’s Howard Guerra for the weekly honor deliberated by print and online reporters covering the league.
Criss Cross will aim to extend its undefeated run to six games on Wednesday as it faces Clearskiiin at the Filoil Centre.
