RODRIGUEZ, RIZAL – Criss Cross moved to the brink of a fourth-straight finals appearance after surviving Savouge Aesthetics’ comeback attempt in a five-set thriller, 25-19, 25-14, 23-25, 18-25, 15-12, in the 2025 Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference on Tuesday night at the Ynares Center Montalban here.
Jude Garcia kept Criss Cross in the hunt during the final stretch, before Jaron Requinton delivered the finishing blows that propelled the King Crunchers into a three-way tie for the top spot at 3-1.
The deadlock will be decided on the final day of the round-robin semifinals on Thursday.
All three squads atop the standings need just one more win to secure a spot in the championship match of the tournament organized by Sports Vision and supported by Alpha Insurance, Premier EMS, Buffalo’s Wings N’ Things, Arena Plus, and Black Mamba.
Criss Cross, however, has the simplest path: needing only to beat the already-eliminated, undermanned University of Santo Tomas-Gameville in their 1:00 PM bout. The result would also knock defending champion Cignal out of contention.
For Garcia and Requinton, that scenario is a chance to continue what they started Tuesday night — carrying over the composure and fire they showed in the clutch to steer the King Crunchers back to the big stage.
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“Ano, tumatakbo lang sa isip ko na gusto ko talaga lahat ng gagalawin namin ay maayos, lahat na pupuntusin namin ay maganda,” Garcia said.
“So yun, talagang nag-contribute naman lahat, and then nakuha namin yung win. Tapos, yun nga, hindi namin makukuha yun kung hindi yung teamwork namin — nagtiwala kami sa isa’t isa na makukuha namin yung win,” he added.
Garcia erupted for five points that gave Criss Cross a 12-9 lead late in the fifth set, wresting back control from a Savouge side that had suddenly looked shaken. This, after riding the momentum of two emphatic set wins that had shifted the pressure onto the King Crunchers.
The fifth set turned into a tug-of-war, with Giles Torres trading blows with Noel Kampton. Then Requinton regained control, facing off against Reymark Betco and Mark Calado, before finally hammering down an off-the-block hit that sealed the win after two hours and 11 minutes.
The three-time league MVP finished with 25 points on 24 attacks and one ace. Meanwhile, the consistent Requinton tallied 19 points on 15 attacks, three aces, and one block, snapping the Spin Doctors’ three-game winning streak.
Nico Almendras added 10 points along with 13 excellent receptions. Middle blockers Poy Colinares and Gian Glorioso contributed eight and seven points, respectively, with four blocks each.
Adrian Villados delivered 23 excellent sets, while liberos John Pepito and Manuel Sumanguid split floor duties, finishing with 12 excellent receptions and 10 excellent digs, respectively.
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Savouge, meanwhile, rallied from a daunting 0-2 set deficit, carrying momentum into the decisive fifth frame. However, it fell short and now needs a win against the Japanese squad on Thursday at 5:00 PM to reach the final.
Calado, who struggled to find his rhythm, still finished with 23 points on 20 attacks, two kill blocks, and one ace. Daniel Nicolas scored 15 points, keeping the Spin Doctors within striking distance in the fifth, while Torres added 14 markers.
Shawie Caritativo contributed an all-around performance with seven points, 16 excellent receptions, and 13 excellent digs. Rikko Marmeto collected 32 excellent receptions in the heartbreaking defeat.
Games air live on One Sports and One Sports+, with video-on-demand available via the Pilipinas Live app. Matches are also streamed on spikersturf.ph.
