For most of the second round and semifinals of the 2025 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference, Jau Umandal watched from the sidelines, nursing a hyperextended knee that kept him on restricted minutes.
But when it mattered most, the 2023 Open Conference MVP returned to his peak form and propelled the Cignal HD Spikers to a dramatic Game 1 victory in the Finals last Wednesday night.
Shaking off the rust, Umandal emerged as Cignal’s catalyst, steering the team to a stunning 22-25, 25-19, 22-25, 25-21, 15-12 triumph over the previously unbeaten Criss Cross King Crunchers. The win not only handed Criss Cross its first loss of the conference but also pushed Cignal one step closer to a coveted three-peat championship.
“Ang saya ko sobra kasi almost second round ng elimination hindi ako nakapaglaro. Dalawang semis [games], hindi ako makapaglaro. Galing ako sa injury,” Umandal shared, his voice filled with emotion after the match.
“Sabi ko lang kanina kapag pinasok ako, ito na ‘yung parang gusto kong ilabas ‘yung nararamdaman ko.”
The former University of Santo Tomas standout came off the bench and delivered a team-high 19 points, proving to be the game-changer Cignal needed against a Criss Cross squad that had beaten them three times earlier in the conference. More importantly, he showed up in the clutch, scoring back-to-back crucial hits to break a 12-all deadlock in the decisive fifth set. Moments later, an attack error by Criss Cross’ Jude Garcia sealed the victory for the HD Spikers in an intense two-hour, 16-minute battle.
Umandal credited the team’s renewed energy and aggression as the difference-maker compared to their previous encounters against Criss Cross.
“Ngayon, naglabasan na ‘yung aggressiveness namin talaga. Kung sino ‘yung willing maglaro, kung sino ‘yung willing mag-contribute, makikita mo ngayon. Laban na ng puso ‘to eh, kung sinong mas matibay sa loob, siya ‘yung mananalo,” he said.
“Di kami nananalo, hirap kami sa kanila as in hirap. Prepared kami mentally, physically, talagang nahihirapan pa rin kami. Pero ‘yung hirap na ‘yun, siguro worth it talaga ngayon.”
But as satisfying as the victory was, Umandal knows the job is far from over. Criss Cross, eager to bounce back, will surely come out swinging in Game 2 to even the series.
For Cignal, the mission is clear—stay locked in, maintain their aggressiveness, and deliver another relentless performance to cement their place in history with a third consecutive Spikers’ Turf Open Conference title.
“Pero sabi ko nga, hindi pa tapos. May Game 2 pa so must win, must win talaga.”
