Criss Cross middle blockers Rex Intal and Kim Malabunga are thrilled to team up once again after spending time together in previous iterations of the Philippine Men’s National Volleyball Team.
Intal and Malabunga had gone up against each other several times in the UAAP and the Spikers’ Turf.
And both played pivotal roles in the Philippines’ historic silver medal finish in the 30th Southeast Asian Games in Manila.
They last played together in 2022 during the 31st SEA Games, when they finished fifth. This will be the first time that Intal and Malabunga will team up in a club competition.
“Siguro first time namin magsasama ni Malabunga sa club team kasi lagi na kami sa national team magkasama,” said the 6-foot-3 Intal, who last played for AMC Cotabato, during the newly-formed King Crunchers’ press conference at the Joy Nostalg Center last Friday.
The towering middle blockers were actually rivals during their collegiate years. Intal was manning the net for Ateneo de Manila University, with Malabunga doing the same for National University.
That rivalry extended to the Spikers’ Turf where Intal’s Cignal went up against Malabunga’s Philippine Air Force in the finals a number of times.
Now on the same side of the court, Intal hopes that he can win one championship with his good friend Malabunga.
“Hopefully, we win a championship together kasi sa UAAP, kami na yung magkaharap eh. So parang nakaka-excite lang kasi nung UAAP rivals kaming dalawa, pero ngayon magkakampi na,” said the 29-year-old Intal.
“Sobrang excited kasi sabi nga niya, sa national team lang kami naging teammates and sa UAAP, laging magkatapat yung teams namin sa championship nung time namin,” added Malabunga.
“‘Di pa kami nag-uusap nun. Sobrang saya lang na bago yung team na lalaruan ko ngayon.”
