Still alive: Criss Cross escapes Cignal in 5-set thriller to force Game 3 in Spikers’ Turf finals

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With their backs against the wall, the Criss Cross King Crunchers drag the Cignal HD Spikers to a winner-take-all showdown after a hard-fought five-set win in Game 2 of their Spikers’ Turf Open Conference finals

MANILA, Philippines – The Criss Cross King Crunchers lived to fight another day in the 2025 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference finals.

With their backs against the wall, the King Crunchers dragged the Cignal HD Spikers to a winner-take-all showdown after hacking out a thrilling 25-20, 25-15, 18-25, 22-25, 15-12 escape in Game 2 of their best-of-three series at the PhilSports Arena on Friday, April 4. 

After seeing his game-high 21-point output wasted in the series opener last Wednesday, April 2, reigning MVP Jude Garcia once again came to play as he exploded for another game-high 25 points built on 20 attacks, 2 blocks, and 3 aces for the King Crunchers.

Nico Almendras and Jaron Requinton backed Garcia with 17 points apiece, while Manuel Sumanguid stepped up with 14 excellent digs and 14 excellent receptions in the match that lasted for 2 hours and 18 minutes. 

“It’s all hard work. We really want to win the championship this conference,” said Requinton in Filipino.

“We were fired up – we wanted Game 3, so we held on and fought,” he added.

After a strong start to the contest that saw it race to a 2-0 set lead, Criss Cross failed complete the sweep as Cignal came alive in the third, leading the King Crunchers the whole set en route to a 25-18 finish.

The HD Spikers carried the momentum into the fourth, building an early 4-0 cushion, before closing out the set, 25-22, to force a decider. 

It was a nip-and-tuck battle between Criss Cross and Cignal early in the fifth, and with the HD Spikers poised to wrap up the series after seizing a 7-4 lead, the King Crunchers turned things around with a crucial 4-0 run.

The set was tied at 11-all when Criss Cross took over for good, ending the match on a 4-1 blast to stay alive and force a do-or-die Game 3 at the same venue on Sunday, April 6.

Jau Umandal – who powered Cignal in the third and fourth sets – topscored for the HD Spikers with 22 points, while Steven Rotter and JP Bugaoan chipped in 12 and 10, respectively. 

Meanwhile, the Savouge Spin Doctors took home the bronze medal after a 25-19, 25-23, 25-22 sweep of the VNS-Laticrete Griffins in Game 2 of their best-of-three battle for third. 

Mark Calado led the way for Savouge with 14 points off 10 attacks and 4 blocks, to go along with 15 excellent receptions. 

On the other side, CJ Segui paced VNS-Laticrete in the loss with a game-high 19 points built on 18 attacks and 1 block. – Rappler.com