Ish Polvorosa named Spikers’ Turf Player of the Week after leading Criss Cross to the finals

Ish Polvorosa continues to make headlines in the 2025 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference, earning his second Spikers’ Turf Press Corps Player of the Week award after guiding Criss Cross to the finals with a perfect 13-game sweep.

The veteran setter’s consistent and precise playmaking was key in Criss Cross’ dominant semifinal performance, propelling the King Crunchers to their third consecutive championship showdown against defending champion Cignal.

Orchestrating the offense

Polvorosa’s exceptional court vision and decision-making were on full display during the semifinals.

In Criss Cross’ 25-19, 25-20, 25-16 win over VNS-Laticrete Griffins last Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Polvorosa tallied 13 excellent sets, while contributing three points and six digs.

He stepped up even further in their semis closer against Cignal, dishing out 27 excellent sets in a 25-22, 19-25, 25-18, 25-21 victory. His steady hands kept the offense flowing, allowing Criss Cross to cap their unbeaten march to the finals.

Staying focused on the bigger prize

Despite his individual accolades, Polvorosa remains locked in on the team’s ultimate goal—winning the championship.

“Personally, and for the team, these 13 games—they’re all erased. I don’t care about what happened in the last 13 games. I’m looking forward and very focused on the fact that we’re going to the finals next week,” Polvorosa emphasized.

His message was clear: the unbeaten run means nothing if they fall short of the title.

“It all boils down to those two or three games. We’re going to take it one game at a time, one skill, and one point at a time. I think that’s how we can progress toward our goal of winning the championship,” he added.

Leading Criss Cross’ redemption bid

Polvorosa’s leadership will be crucial as Criss Cross prepares for a highly anticipated finals rematch against defending champion Cignal.

After falling short in their last two championship series against Cignal, the King Crunchers are hungry for redemption.

“There’s pressure for both of us, but I think we’re still the underdogs here,” Polvorosa admitted. “We didn’t win against them last year, so this is the perfect opportunity for us to grab that championship.”

He stressed the importance of maintaining composure and building on their winning momentum:

“We need to keep building on what we’ve been doing, stay focused, and have the courage to finally take this title. We respect Cignal so much, and we know they won’t go down without a fight. That’s why we’re preparing for them just as much.”