Jaron Requinton rose when it mattered most.
With Criss Cross teetering on the edge of heartbreak, the high-flying outside hitter delivered clutch blow after clutch blow, powering the King Crunchers past defending champion Cignal, 25-20, 25-15, 18-25, 22-25, 15-12, to force a do-or-die Game 3 in the 2025 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference Finals on Friday at the Philsports Arena.
With the match tied at 11-all in the decisive fifth set, Requinton took over—unleashing back-to-back hits that gave Criss Cross the lead for good. A costly mishit from Jau Umandal then handed the Rebisco-backed squad a 14-11 advantage.
Umandal briefly kept the HD Spikers alive with an off-the-block hit, but Kim Malabunga slammed the door shut with his signature running attack—sealing a two-hour, 18-minute thriller that kept Criss Cross’ championship hopes alive.
(C) Spikers Turf Images
“Yung pumasok po sa isip ko nung buong fifth set, hindi ko lang pinapahalata pero kinakabahan ako. Pero nung nandun na si kuya Marck, or someone sa teammates namin nagsabi na walang imposible,” said Requinton.
“Yun lang ‘yung word na sinasabi ko buong fifth set sa kanila na walang imposible na hanggang sa nagulat na lang kami nag-all seven, nag 8-7, lumamang na kami. ‘Yun talaga, walang imposible,” he added.
After being limited to just five points in their 22-25, 25-19, 22-25, 25-21, 12-15 loss in Game 1, Requinton bounced back with a fiery 17-point performance in Game 2, highlighted by 16 attacks and four excellent digs.
Reigning MVP Jude Garcia also came up big for Criss Cross, firing 25 points off 20 attacks, three aces, and a block, while also finishing with 21 excellent receptions.
Nico Almendras contributed 17 points, including two kill blocks, as the King Crunchers continued their quest for a breakthrough title after two runner-up finishes against the same Cignal squad.
Marck Espejo, who started all five sets in Game 1 and dropped 15 points, saw limited action in Game 2, entering only in the fourth and fifth sets and scoring just four markers. Still, two of those points came during a critical 5-1 spurt that gave Cignal a slim 9-8 lead in the final frame.
Ish Polvorosa steadied the ship for Criss Cross with 23 excellent sets and two points, while Manuel Sumanguid held the fort on defense with 14 excellent digs and 14 excellent receptions.
Criss Cross looked poised for a sweep after dominating the opening two sets, but the HD Spikers clawed back with a gritty comeback, taking the third and fourth frames to force a fifth-set decider.
Now tied at one game apiece, the King Crunchers and the HD Spikers are headed for a blockbuster winner-take-all Game 3 on Sunday at 4 p.m., still at the Philsports Arena.
(C) Spikers Turf Images
On the other side, Game 1 hero Jau Umandal paced Cignal with 22 points on 20 attacks, one ace, and one block, along with nine excellent receptions.
Steven Rotter delivered 15 points off 11 attacks, two kill blocks, and two aces, while also recording six excellent digs. JP Bugaoan and Lloyd Josafat added 12 and 10 points, respectively, with Louie Ramirez finishing with nine.
Owa Retamar was held to just 13 excellent sets, while Vince Lorenzo stepped up with 35 excellent sets and six excellent digs for the HD Spikers.
