Kindai University snapped Criss Cross’ eight-game winning streak with a resilient four-set performance, 25-22, 25-22, 19-25, 25-22, to secure back-to-back wins to open the 2025 Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference on Saturday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
The Japanese squad held off a surging Criss Cross team, which regained momentum in the third set, before closing out the match in a tight fourth frame behind Yoshiki Yasuda’s standout performance.
They now have a 2-0 start and a tie with Savouge Aesthetics at the top of the standings.
With Kindai University trailing 17-18, Yasuda took over, firing four straight points — including a thunderous block on Nico Almendras — to spark a 5-0 run that turned the deficit into a commanding 22-18 lead.
(C) Spikers Turf Images
Criss Cross fought back as Yuu Kubota and Yuma Onabe committed consecutive attack errors that pulled them within two. Jude Garcia traded hits with Kentaro Hata before Masakazu Kawano delivered the finishing blow to seal the win for the Japanese side.
Aun Ryutaro spearheaded Kindai University’s win over the top-seeded King Crunchers with 18 points in the tournament organized by Sports Vision and supported by Alpha Insurance, Premiere EMS, Buffalo’s Wings N’ Things, Arena Plus, and Black Mamba.
Yasuda added 17 points, while Haruka Misugi contributed an all-around performance with 14 points, 17 excellent receptions, and seven excellent digs. Kubota delivered 28 excellent sets to guide the team to victory.
Kindai University will face University of Santo Tomas-Gameville on Monday at 1:00 PM at the same venue, aiming to strengthen its position for a top-two finish.
(C) Spikers Turf Images
Meanwhile, Criss Cross, coming off a five-set triumph over rival Cignal, struggled to match the Japanese squad early, sliding to 1-1 in the standings.
Three-time league MVP Garcia finished with a game-high 21 points, while Poy Colinares and Almendras added 14 and 12 points, respectively, in the King Crunchers’ first loss of the tournament.
Adrian Villados dished out 26 excellent sets and two points, while John Pepito tallied 25 excellent receptions and six excellent digs.
Criss Cross aims to bounce back against ProVolley Academy on Saturday at 5:00 PM.
Games are aired live on One Sports and One Sports+, with video-on-demand access via the Pilipinas Live app. Matches are also streamed on spikersturf.ph.
