Adrian Villados was given the chance to shine, and he grabbed it wholeheartedly, seizing the opportunity to help Criss Cross claim its first-ever Spikers’ Turf championship.
With main setter Ish Polvorosa sidelined due to an ACL injury, the Arellano University playmaker stepped out of the shadows and unleashed his full potential, breaking out in the 2025 Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference and capping it off with a Finals MVP performance.
In an epic one-game finale that stretched to five sets, Criss Cross proved the steadier squad, outlasting Japan’s Kindai University, 25-15, 25-21, 23-25, 23-25, 22-20, on Saturday night before a large crowd at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Villados delivered the game of his life, recording 34 excellent sets that enabled four King Crunchers to score in double digits, led by now four-time MVP Jude Garcia’s 35 points.
(C) Spikers Turf Images
“Yun nga po malaking part para sa team na wala si Kuya Ish kaya binigyan ako ng tiwala nila coach para gampanan ko. Ang ginawa ko lang is perform lang ako every game, every training 100 percent. Binigyan din ako ng tiwala nila coach para ipasok sa first six, ginawa ko lang talaga yung best ko and tiwala sa teammates,” said the Criss Cross playmaker.
“Masaya po kasi ayun nakamit namin yung championship so yung mga awards po bonus lang talaga. All the sacrifices ginawa namin everything nagbunga po lahat.”
On top of his Finals MVP award, Villados also claimed the Best Setter title of the conference — the icing on his rise to stardom for the King Crunchers.
He credited Polvorosa, as well as his other seniors on the team, for the tremendous growth he achieved this conference, guiding Criss Cross to the title and effectively ending their three-conference streak of silver finishes.
Villados became the first setter in Spikers’ Turf history to win Finals MVP.
“Sobrang laking bagay na nandyan yung mga kuya ko, hindi lang si kuya Ish, sila Kuya Marck (Espejo), kuya Kim (Malabunga), Kuya Ysay (Marasigan), yung mga seniors ko,” he said.
“Malaking bagay kasi sila yung mas maraming experience kesa sa akin, sila rin yung nakakakita ng nangyayari sa loob ng court. So pag lumalabas kami ng court may ina-advise sila sa akin, marami silang sinasabi sa akin, so malaking tulong kasi gumagana sa laro.”
#WATCH: Adrian Villados says winning Best Setter and Finals MVP are just bonuses. What matters is the championship 🏐#ReadMore 👉 https://t.co/1ChsXMeMtt
📹 @jonashdcd /Tiebreaker Times #SpikersTurf2025 pic.twitter.com/vB5L2Vedbg
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) November 29, 2025
