Jude Garcia and Criss Cross made their mark in their maiden conference in the Spikers’ Turf.
Garcia recently returned to indoor action after focusing on beach volleyball for quite some time. And he took the 2024 Open Conference by storm, being hailed as the league’s Most Valuable Player.
He ranked second in points scored with 182 points on 137 spikes, 34 blocks, and 11 service aces.
The Far Eastern University product also ranked third in spiking with a 45.51-percent success rate, first in blocking with 0.83 per set, and second in serving with 0.27 aces per frame.
His beach volleyball background also shone with a 46.09-percent efficiency rate in reception, placing him eighth in the league.
His team, the King Crunchers, also performed well, securing a silver finish.
Criss Cross succumbed to now-seven-time champion Cignal in two games in the best-of-three Finals.
Despite settling for second place, Garcia reminded everyone that this is just the start for Criss Cross – the newfound rival of the HD Spikers.
(C) Joaqui Flores/Spikers Turf
“Sobrang proud ako sa team namin kahit bago pa lang kami at sobrang thankful ako sa kanilang lahat kasi lahat kami nag-cocontribute, lahat kami naghirap dito at hindi lang naman ako. Maraming, maraming salamat sa mga teammates ko,” said the newly-minted MVP.
“‘Di pa kasi nagtatapos ‘yung laban namin. Bawi kami next season, ‘yun lang ‘yung masasabi ko. Paghahandaan talaga namin ‘yung pag-comeback namin next season. Pag-iigihan pa namin ‘yung mga ginawa namin this season at pagbubutihan pa namin,” continued the outside spiker.
The unwavering and growing support of the fans also did not go unnoticed by Garcia.
Throughout the conference, the crowd continued to double in every exciting match-up as the league organized by Sports Vision also offered a “Bring a Friend” promo wherein you get two tickets for the price of one.
In the Finals series, almost a thousand trooped to the historic Rizal Memorial Coliseum for both games to witness the beginning of what would probably be the next big rivalry in Philippine sports.
Even the biggest stars in the Premier Volleyball League came to watch as Garcia and Marck Espejo went toe-to-toe with Cignal’s duo of Bryan Bagunas and Jau Umandal.
“Sobrang thankful ako sa mga fans ng Spikers’ Turf sa men’s na hindi kami iniwan,” said Garcia, who even has his own fan club called “Judenatics”.
“Ito na ‘yung kumbaga pag-shine din ng men’s volleyball sa Pilipinas. Dapat lagi nating tangkilikin din ‘yung men’s at ‘wag niyo kaming iwan,” he remarked.
