Cignal and Criss Cross are set for another championship battle in the 2025 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference after sweeping their semifinal matchups on Wednesday night, March 26, at Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Cignal eliminated Savouge in a dominant 25-19, 25-20, 25-18 win, while Criss Cross continued its perfect run with a 25-20, 25-15, 25-11 victory over VNS-Laticrete.

The HD Spikers and King Crunchers will meet in the finals for the third straight time after facing off in both the 2024 Open Conference and Invitational Finals, with Cignal emerging victorious on both occasions.

Cignal dismantles Savouge

Cignal imposed its will against a desperate Savouge squad, showcasing superior firepower and capitalizing on its opponent’s service errors and inconsistent execution.

Despite already securing a finals spot, head coach Dexter Clamor’s team refused to let up, sealing their eighth straight championship appearance in the Spikers’ Turf.

“Our team played really well. I’m thankful that the game plan we prepared over the past days paid off,” Clamor said in Filipino.

Steven Rotter led the HD Spikers with 13 points, including 10 attacks and three blocks, while team captain JP Bugaoan and Wendel Miguel chipped in nine and eight points, respectively.

Setter Owa Retamar also played a pivotal role, recording 21 excellent sets and five digs in the one-hour, 20-minute contest.

Espejo ignites Criss Cross to 12-0 record

Returning from Japan’s V.League, Marck Espejo delivered a dominant 14-point performance, nearly tripling his five-point output from his previous match.

Espejo recorded 10 attacks, two blocks, and two aces, while adding four excellent digs as Criss Cross overpowered VNS-Laticrete in just 68 minutes.

“Coming from Japan, I just kept the momentum going. My main adjustment has been the weather and adapting to Coach Tai (Bundit)’s training style, which is different from Japan’s,” Espejo shared.

With the win, Criss Cross extended its flawless run to 12-0, setting up another intense showdown with Cignal in the finals.

Nico Almendras contributed 10 points, while reigning MVP Jude Garcia added nine to help secure the King Crunchers’ third straight championship appearance.

Final four picture: Savouge and VNS out of contention

The losses by Savouge and VNS-Laticrete officially eliminated them from title contention. They will battle for third place on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. at Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Savouge’s Mark Calado scored 11 points and recorded 10 excellent receptions, while Giles Torres and Shawie Caritativo added eight and seven points, respectively.

VNS-Laticrete, led by Rash Nursidddik (10 points) and CJ Segui (nine points), struggled against Criss Cross and will look to end their campaign on a high note in the bronze medal match.

Cignal, Criss Cross face off one last time before finals

Despite securing their spots in the best-of-three finals series, Cignal and Criss Cross will meet once more on Sunday at 6 p.m. to wrap up their semifinal assignments.

While the match is technically non-bearing, Cignal will be seeking revenge after losing twice to Criss Cross in the elimination round. Meanwhile, the King Crunchers will aim to extend their winning streak to 13 games before the finals.

With both teams eyeing the Spikers’ Turf Open Conference title, another thrilling championship battle is expected at Rizal Memorial Coliseum.