Marck Espejo carried the weight of defeat on his shoulders, blaming himself after Criss Cross’ heartbreaking Game 3 loss to Cignal in the 2025 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference Finals.
The King Crunchers were on the verge of sending Game 3 into a fourth set after taking a late 23-20 advantage. However, the HD Spikers showed poise under pressure, closing the gap and eventually forcing a long deuce.
It was already a tough situation for Criss Cross, especially after losing setter Ish Polvorosa late in the third. Still, Espejo stepped up and delivered an off-the-block attack to give his side a 26-25 lead.
Unfortunately, the former league MVP seemed to run out of gas in the crucial stretch.
Espejo went up for an attack off a broken play, but the ball sailed out, tying the game at 26-all.
The Alas Pilipinas mainstay tried again on the next play but was denied by a formidable two-man block from Owa Retamar and Lloyd Josafat, putting Cignal just a point away from the championship.
(C) Spikers Turf Images
Espejo managed to fire off two attacks in the ensuing rally in a desperate attempt to tie the game. However, Manuel Sumanguid barely dug the second one after it was deflected by Cignal’s blockers.
The 28-year-old leapt over the LED boards in a final effort to save the ball — and Criss Cross’ championship hopes — but he couldn’t reach it in time, sealing his team’s fate.
“Siguro, inaako ko na lang ‘yung set na ‘yun kasi I feel like ako ‘yung nagpatalo ng set na ‘yun. Ganun po talaga, babawi na lang,” Espejo said, breaking into tears after the heartbreaking loss.
Espejo finished with six points after barely playing in the second and starting the third set.
Criss Cross had an incredible run in the Open Conference, sweeping both the eliminations and the semifinals to enter the Finals with an undefeated 13-0 record.
However, despite their impressive campaign, the team fell short in mental toughness when faced with the HD Spikers, unable to match their composure in the crucial moments of the series.
“Siguro po syempre ‘yung both teams naman po gusto manalo. Pero siguro nagkulang kami sa mental toughness, like ‘yung championship mindset ba,” Espejo said, who only joined the team in the semifinals after his stint with the Kubota Spears in the Japan V.League.
“Kasi siyempre knowing Cignal, lagi silang nasa Finals. Alam nila kung paano maglaro sa Finals. Well, kami namang Criss Cross, nasa Finals pero wala pa ‘yung championship mindset namin. Siguro mentally, mas pagpupursigihin pa namin.”
Despite losing a third title series to Cignal, Espejo emphasized that this isn’t the end for the King Crunchers. He promised the team would come back stronger, pushing forward with renewed determination in the next conference.
“Siyempre po, malungkot, pero hindi po kami titigil kasi para sa amin, achievement pa rin ‘to na last time natalo, pero this conference natalo na ‘yung Cignal, na-sweep ‘yung elimination at semis, nanalo kami ng isang game sa Finals against Cignal, pero kinulang sa dulo,” said Espejo.
“Pero ayun, achievement pa rin sa’min ‘yun. Hopefully, next conference, malagpasan na namin ‘yung ganitong sitwasyon namin.”
#WATCH: “I FEEL LIKE AKO ANG NAGPATALO”
Marck Espejo shouldered the blame in Criss Cross’ loss to Cignal in the #SpikersTurf2025 Open Conference Finals
📹 @jonashdcd /Tiebreaker Times pic.twitter.com/BS35XQ9s2r
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) April 6, 2025
