Two undefeated teams enter, but only one will remain on top.

Defending champions Cignal HD Spikers and Criss Cross square off today, March 5, in a highly anticipated battle for undisputed control of the Spikers’ Turf Open Conference at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.

Both squads are coming off dominant performances, setting the stage for a fiery encounter between Cignal’s championship experience and Criss Cross’ hunger for redemption.

Cignal Eyes Another Statement Win

The HD Spikers, led by Jau Umandal and Steven Rotter, have been nothing short of dominant, but head coach Dexter Clamor is keeping his team grounded.

“Very alarming, but I know how they play against Criss Cross. The mindset and focus are there – almost no one talks because they’re locked in. I just hope we can change that mindset,” Clamor said in Filipino.

Cignal started slow against PGJC-Navy in their previous match, dropping the first set before rallying back to win. Clamor knows his team cannot afford a similar lapse against a motivated Criss Cross squad.

Criss Cross Seeks Revenge

The King Crunchers, led by Jude Garcia and Kim Malabunga, are out to finally take down their long-time rivals after falling short in the Open and Invitational finals last year.

“We’ll review Cignal’s game and then rest. After that, we go all out in practice to prepare for the match,” Garcia said in Filipino.

Both teams have endured a grueling schedule, playing four matches in just two weeks, making conditioning and recovery crucial in this matchup.

With Cignal’s firepower and Criss Cross’ relentless determination, expect an intense, down-the-wire battle that could determine the landscape of the tournament moving forward.

Other Matches in the Spikers’ Turf Open Conference

Aside from the highly anticipated Cignal vs. Criss Cross battle, two more matches complete the day’s triple-header.

• Savouge (2-2) vs. VNS-Laticrete (1-3) – 1:00 p.m.
• PGJC-Navy (1-3) vs. Alpha Insurance (0-4) – 3:30 p.m.

Sherwin Caritativo and Giles Torres will lead Savouge, looking to bounce back from a five-set loss to Criss Cross. Meanwhile, CJ Segui and the Griffins aim to build momentum after securing their first win of the tournament.

In the third match, Greg Dolor and John Ashley Jacob will carry the offensive load for PGJC-Navy, which will again be without top spiker Joeven Dela Vega. Edward Camposano and Vincent Nadere are determined to help Alpha Insurance secure its first victory.