Criss Cross may have looked on the brink of unraveling when Savouge mounted a huge turnaround in the second set of Game 1 of the 2026 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference Finals, but this version of the King Crunchers proved to be built differently.
Drawing strength from past Finals heartbreaks and their recent championship run, the King Crunchers stayed composed after the Spin Doctors stole the second set, regrouping to pull off a 25-20, 26-28, 25-18, 25-20 victory and move to the brink of a second consecutive title.
“Dati, ’di namin ma-handle; ngayon, nakukuha na namin, so nag-i-improve yung bawat isa,” admitted four-time MVP Jude Garcia.
That growth, however, did not happen overnight.
Criss Cross endured three consecutive painful Finals defeats before finally breaking through in last year’s Invitational Conference, where it outlasted Japanese guest team Kindai University in a cardiac five-set thriller to capture its first title in the league.
(C) Spikers’ Turf Images
Savouge’s second-set fightback could have easily shifted the momentum. Instead, it became a test—one the King Crunchers were ready for.
“Sobrang laking factor talaga nung championship experience namin last championship kasi makikita doon kung paano ma-ha-handle yung emotions namin—yung lamang sila, yung kalaban,” said Garcia, who dropped 26 points in the win.
“Kumbaga, nahahandle na namin ‘yun,” he added.
Still, the moment also served as a reminder that there is no room for complacency at this level, especially against a Spin Doctors side oozing with talent and resilience.
For Garcia, that mindset remains non-negotiable heading into Game 2, as he emphasized the need for Criss Cross to stay locked in and avoid lapses if they want to close out the series.
“Focus pa rin sa goal, huwag maging complacent sa ginagawa namin. Dodoblehin o kaya triplehin namin ang effort sa Game 2 kasi alam naman namin na lalaban talaga ang Savouge. Kailangan talaga yung mindset and focus namin, nandoon dapat sa game.”
