With the slate wiped clean and the stakes reset to zero, the race to the Spikers’ Turf Open Conference Finals promises to ignite into a high-voltage battle of grit, adjustments and survival. But while the round-robin semifinals offer every contender a fresh shot at glory, one looming question hangs over the field: can anyone stop Criss Cross?
Unbeaten through a dominant 10-game sweep of the eliminations, the King Crunchers enter the next phase not just as favorites – but as the standard every other team must now chase. And for Savouge, Alpha Insurance and AEP-Cabstars, the road ahead just got steeper.
The semis blasts off on Wednesday at the FilOil Centre, with Savouge Spin Doctors stepping into the spotlight – or the firing line – against a Criss Cross side that has yet to show a crack in its armor. In their previous encounters, the King Crunchers dismantled the Spin Doctors in convincing fashion, reinforcing their reputation as the team to beat.
But Savouge heads into their 5 p.m. showdown believing it has found answers. Delivering on that belief, however, will require more than just firepower, cohesion and defensive discipline. The Spin Doctors must find a way to disrupt a team that has consistently dictated their matchups – a daunting task in a round-robin format where every win carries massive weight.
Still, all eyes remain on Criss Cross. Armed with a deep and balanced roster, the King Crunchers boast a lethal attack, near-impenetrable net defense and a level of court awareness unmatched in the field.
Controlling tempo and asserting dominance at the net are expected to be decisive factors, especially in a format where momentum can shift in an instant and every rally can tilt the balance of the standings.
At the core of Criss Cross’ dominance is its suffocating net defense. The team topped the eliminations in blocking with 123 total blocks, averaging 3.84 per set – a commanding margin that highlights its superiority at the front line.
Leading that defensive wall are Lloyd Josafat, Jude Garcia, Noel Kampton and Kim Malabunga, whose timing and presence at the net have consistently disrupted opposing offenses throughout the conference organized by Sports Vision and backed by Alpha Insurance, ArenaPlus, Black Mamba and Premier EMS.
“Talagang kudos sa lahat ng teammates ko kasi tinrabaho ng bawat isa ‘yung sweep. Pero syempre, back to zero ulit kasi nga papunta ng semis. Kumbaga, lahat ng games importante so kailangan talaga ‘yung 100 percent effort, every game nandoon,” said four-time MVP Garcia.
Savouge, however, counters with a versatile and explosive offensive unit built to challenge even the toughest defenses. The quartet of Mark Calado, Louie Ramirez, JP Bugaoan and Shawie Caritativo – all top-10 scorers in the eliminations – gives the Spin Doctors multiple scoring options as they attempt to break through Criss Cross’ imposing wall.
Earlier in the day, Alpha Insurance and AEP-Cabstars collide at 3 p.m. in another crucial semis matchup.
The Protectors will rely on Jau Umandal, Edward Camposano and JM Ronquillo, while the Cabstars turn to Jay Rack De La Noche, Vince Abrot and Jared Schnake in what shapes up to be a tightly contested duel between evenly matched squads.
For both teams, the matchup presents a critical opportunity. Neither side managed to topple the top two teams in the prelims, making this clash pivotal in shaping their Final Four campaign.
