Jude Garcia delivered his finest performance of the 2025 Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference to lead Criss Cross to its fourth consecutive Finals appearance, fending off UST-Gameville, 25-17, 23-25, 25-23, 25-23, on Thursday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
Garcia poured in 31 points on a hyper-efficient 30-of-48 spiking clip, good for 62.5-percent, while also adding one block.
The King Crunchers’ victory improved their record to 4-1, with the winner between Savouge Aesthetics and Kindai University later in the day set to be their championship opponent.
The win also eliminated defending champion Cignal, ending the Super Spikers’ streak of eight consecutive Finals appearances in the league organized by Sports Vision and supported by Alpha Insurance, Premiere EMS, Buffalo’s Wings N’ Things, Black Mamba, and Arena Plus.
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“Sobrang challenging kasi talagang pinahirapan kami ng UST and talagang nakita kung paano kami mag-regroup at mag-compose sa loob ng court para makuha namin ‘yung win,” said Garcia.
Fittingly, it was the three-time MVP who closed the match for the King Crunchers. He scored five of their final seven points to overcome the Golden Spikers’ fourth-set challenge.
His backrow hit, which bounced off UST-Gameville’s blockers, ended the match after one hour and 54 minutes, giving Criss Cross another shot at the crown.
Earlier, Garcia had put the King Crunchers at set point in the third with an off-the-block spike. Then Noel Kampton denied Gboy De Vega at the net, securing a 2-1 set advantage, 25-23.
“Feel ko, one step at a time lang. Hindi puwedeng maging complacent kung anong ginagalaw namin kasi ang dami naming lapses in the past games. Kaya kailangan namin trabahuhin every points and every set ng match sa championship,” said Garcia, who had previously settled for three silver medals in the first three conferences.
Nico Almendras contributed 10 points and 21 excellent receptions, while Gian Glorioso matched UST-Gameville’s seven blocks single-handedly and added nine points.
Despite being out-attacked by UST-Gameville, 64-54, Criss Cross dominated the blocking department, 14-7, and capitalized on the Golden Spikers’ 30 errors — 16 more than they committed.
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UST-Gameville ended their campaign with a 1-4 record in the semifinals.
Sherwin Umandal led the Golden Spikers with 21 points on 19 spikes, a block, and an ace, along with six digs. Meanwhile, Gboy De Vega contributed 17 points, 21 receptions, and five digs.
Trevor Valera added 14 points, and Kenneth Salvador chipped in 12 points.
Games air live on One Sports and One Sports+, as well as through the Pilipinas Live app, which offers video-on-demand options. Matches are also streamed via spikersturf.ph.
