Criss Cross restores order, clinches Spikers’ Turf Open championship

April 20 ------ Criss Cross turned a series once thrown into chaos back into a testament of poise and championship resolve, then underscored its dominance with individual brilliance as Jude Garcia headlined a decorated night that ended in back-to-back glory. The King Crunchers restored order in the most pressure-packed moment, outlasting a surging Savouge Spin Doctors in a winner-take-all Game 3, 28-26, 25-17, 26-28, 25-23, to capture the 2026 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference crown at the Filoil Center.

The triumph marked Criss Cross’ second consecutive title—its first in the Open Conference after three straight attempts—having also ruled the previous Invitational Conference, further cementing its status as the league’s benchmark program. But beyond the championship hardware, the night belonged to Garcia, who completed a historic sweep of individual accolades by claiming his fifth straight Most Valuable Player award while also being named Finals MVP, anchoring the King Crunchers’ title defense with yet another all-around masterclass.

The 27-year-old outside hitter-turned-opposite continued to set a standard no one in the league has matched, topping three major statistical categories in the Open Conference—scoring with 201 points, spiking with a 50.78 percent success rate, and serving with 0.27 aces per set—while also ranking fourth in blocking and eighth in digging to highlight his two-way impact. In the finals, Garcia averaged 21.0 points per game across the three-match series, erupting for 26 points in Game 1, struggling through a tightly defended Game 2 with 10 markers, then roaring back with a 27-point explosion in Game 3 to push Criss Cross over the line. “Sobrang sarap sa pakiramdam talaga kasi nung third and fourth set walang binibigay na madali sa amin ‘yung Savouge,” said Garcia. “’Pag pinaghihirapan talaga, mas sumasarap ‘yung championship. ‘Yun talaga ‘yung sinasabi ko, kaya nakuha namin ‘yung championship.”

Game 3 itself proved to be a brutal test of nerve, as Savouge refused to fold after stealing a set earlier in the series and once again dragged Criss Cross into a tense closing frame. With the Spin Doctors trading blows late in the fourth set, Louie Ramirez forced a 23-all deadlock to keep Savouge alive, setting up a dramatic finish that pushed both teams to the brink. But Criss Cross leaned on its veterans when it mattered most. Noel Kampton delivered 20 points to steady the offense, while Alche Gupiteo added 12 markers and Kim Malabunga provided the decisive final push.

After Malabunga earlier came through with a crucial quick attack to break a 23-all deadlock, he returned to center stage with the defining moment—meeting Ramirez at the net for a thunderous championship-clinching block that sealed the title, completing a redemption arc after a similar blocked attempt in international play was once ruled off due to a net touch. Adrian Villados orchestrated the offense with 33 excellent sets, while Manuel Sumanguid anchored the floor defense with 20 excellent receptions and eight digs, as Criss Cross finally closed out Savouge after a punishing three-game series. For the Spin Doctors, Mark Calado led the fight with 16 points, while Ramirez added 13 points and 13 excellent receptions, and JP Bugaoan contributed 10 markers in their first Finals appearance, which ended with a silver medal finish.

Despite the defeat, Savouge also saw its campaign recognized individually, with Shawie Caritativo earning Best Outside Spiker honors alongside Criss Cross’ Gupiteo. Caritativo finished ninth in scoring with 115 points while ranking among the league leaders in receiving and serving, while Gupiteo impressed in his debut season by placing fourth in scoring with 159 points and excelling in multiple statistical categories. At the net, Bugaoan and Lloyd Josafat were named Best Middle Blockers, with Bugaoan leading the league in blocking at 0.87 per set while Josafat ranked third in blocks and contributed 93 points for Criss Cross. Villados was recognized as Best Setter after pacing the league with 5.84 excellent sets per set, while Savouge’s Vince Lorenzo took Best Libero after topping digging with 2.30 per set and ranking among the best in reception. But at the center of it all stood Garcia—champion, MVP, and Finals MVP—once again defining a season that Criss Cross turned into its own.

Source: tiebreakertimes.com.ph