Marck Espejo admitted that Criss Cross relaxed, a major factor in their shocking loss to the D’Navigators in the opening of the 2024 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference round-robin semifinals.
The King Crunchers actually dominated the opening frame before eventually losing grasp of the game in the next three.
That allowed the D’Navigators to take a 16-25, 27-25, 25-21, 25-17 win at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
“Sa amin, siguro masyado kaming nag-relax. Super nag-relax kami na feeling namin kaya naming manalo, kaya namin silang talunin,” said the former league MVP.
“Pero ayun nga, nag-perform sila. Mas gusto nilang manalo kesa sa amin, so ayun, kaya kami natalo.”
Espejo had been playing limited minutes for Criss Cross, but eventually went all-out in the last two sets to finish with a team-high 15 points on 13 attacks and two aces.
Previously, he’d been reduced to a bench role in the King Crunchers’ last three elimination round games.
When asked if he’s nursing any injuries, Espejo respectfully declined to comment on his status, stating that he doesn’t want to use it as an excuse.
(C) Joaqui Flores/ Spikers Turf
“I mean, ayoko namang magsalita kasi siyempre excuse po yun eh. Pero yun nga, kung ano lang kaya kong i-contribute, gagawin ko,” said the 27-year-old outside spiker, who only joined Criss Cross midway into the preliminaries due to his stint with the Korean Air Jumbos in the Korean V-League.
“Naiintindihan lang talaga ako ng mga PT, conditioning, saka ni Coach Tai (Bundit). Siguro dinadahan-dahan lang nila ako kasi galing talaga akong pahinga,” he continued. “Feeling ko naman nakaka-recover ako paunti-unti and ayun… Siguro kung ano yung nakita niyo sa last set, yun na yung gagawin namin hanggang matapos.
“Gagawin ko yung best ko, yung best namin para maka-recover.”
Espejo also commended the D’Navigators for their impressive performance, saying that the team made great strides since the elimination round.
“Actually, gusto ko rin i-commend din yung D’Navigators sa performance nila today. As in malayong malayo yung performance nila nung eliminations so good job sa kanila,” he said.
As for his squad, the five-time UAAP champion said that he wants to see more fire in his teammates come the next game as they look to avoid elimination against PGJC-Navy on Friday, 6:00 PM.
“Siguro mas lagyan pa namin ng fire sa ice namin kasi parang naglalaro lang kami kasi gusto naming maglaro. Kailangan naming maglaro para manalo naman. Kasi kahit na bagong team kami, parang may chance rin kami na umabot sa finals.”
