Talk about nerves and poise – the Criss Cross King Crunchers proved they have both in abundance.

After falling short in a heartbreaking five-set loss in Game One last Wednesday, where they struggled to find their finishing touch, the King Crunchers responded with a statement victory.

Staring down another collapse after squandering a two-set lead and trailing 4-7 in the decisive fifth frame, they flipped the script in stunning fashion, unleashing an electrifying 11-5 closing run to complete a 25-20, 25-15, 18-25, 22-25, 15-12 escape act over Cignal.

What seemed destined to be another devastating loss transformed into a roaring triumph. The King Crunchers, who had been on the brink of elimination, clawed their way back into the series and forced a do-or-die Game 3 in their best-of-three Spikers’ Turf Open Conference Finals.

The epic two-hour, 18-minute battle now sets the stage for a winner-take-all clash tomorrow (Sunday) at 6 p.m., also at the Philsports Arena.

Jaron Requinton emerged as the hero in the tense final moments. With Cignal’s defense zeroing in on top scorer Jude Garcia, setter Ish Polvorosa turned to the young sophomore, who stepped up with back-to-back clutch hits to push Criss Cross ahead, 13-10.

Then, in an unexpected twist of fate, Jau Umandal – the same player who had powered Cignal’s comeback in the third and fourth sets and the HD Spikers’ early surge in the deciding set – made a costly miscue, an overset leading to a botched play that put the King Crunchers at match point. Smelling blood, they capitalized on Cignal’s shaky offensive thrust, with Kim Malabunga delivering the final blow off a quick hit to seal the emotional victory.

“It’s all hard work. We really want to win the championship this conference,” said Requinton in Filipino, his voice cracking and eyes brimming with tears after the hard-fought win where he poured in 17 points. “We were fired up – we wanted Game 3, so we held on and fought.”

It was a masterclass in resilience. The King Crunchers, who had previously bulldozed their way to a 13-game win streak before faltering in the endgame of the title series’ opener, restored order with this scrambling win. The team that had overwhelmed the HD Spikers in their three prior meetings this season – twice in the elimination round and once in the semifinals – was back in the hunt, leaving no room for another late-game meltdown.

That Game One defeat didn’t just snap their remarkable run; it also put them on the brink of another heartbreak. Memories of last season’s agony loomed large when they fell short against the HD Spikers in two consecutive finals.

But instead of succumbing to the weight of history, the King Crunchers used it as fuel. They stormed into Game Two with laser-sharp focus, executing their game plan with precision, power, and poise.

From the opening serve, the HD Spikers were left grasping for answers. The King Crunchers dominated in every facet of the game – relentless in offense, suffocating in defense, and unwavering in intensity.

Their frontline stifled the HD Spikers’ attack, their transition play was seamless, and their service pressure was unyielding. Every rally was a statement, every point a step closer to redemption.

But Cignal, showcasing sheer grit, experience, and unshakable resolve, battled back from a two-set deficit to push the match to another thrilling fifth set. This time, however, it was the HD Spikers who came up just short.

The electrifying showdown between the two powerhouse squads was made even more special by the presence of their Premier Volleyball League counterparts, who came out in full force to show their support. Criss Cross drew encouragement from an all-star cast led by Alyssa Valdez, Bea de Leon, Michele Gumabao, Bernadeth Pons, Tots Carlos, Jema Galanza, and Kyle Negrito, all representing their sister team, Creamline.

Meanwhile, the HD Spikers had their own contingent of supporters, with Gel Cayuna, Roselyn Doria, Ishie Lalongisip, Jackie Acuña, Buding Duremdes, Jovelyn Fernandez, and Cham Cunada rallying behind them, along with Taiwan league star Bryan Bagunas.

Garcia top-scored for Criss Cross with 25 points, while Nico Almendras matched Requinton’s output, and Gian Glorioso and Malabunga added eight and six points, respectively.

Umandal led Cignal with 22 points but was forced to leave the court after the team built a 7-4 lead due to a slight hand injury. Steven Rotter added 15 points, while JP Bugaoan and Lloyd Josafat chipped in 12 and 10 points, respectively.

With momentum now on their side and the confidence that they can go toe-to-toe with the defending champions, Criss Cross has one final chance to dethrone Cignal.

Savouge grabs bronze

Meanwhile, Savouge flexed just enough muscle to shoulder past VNS-Laticrete, 25-19, 25-23, 25-22, securing the bronze medal with a sweep of their best-of-three series.

The Spin Doctors, who marked their league debut with a third-place finish in the Invitational Conference last season, fell short of a Finals appearance once again but successfully replicated their initial league performance. This achievement was powered by new recruits Mark Calado and Madz Gampong, alongside team mainstay Sherwin Caritativo.

“It feels great, even though we fell short of our goal for this conference. At the very least, we were able to defend our bronze medal,” said Savouge head coach Sydney Calderon in Filipino.

Despite the seemingly close scoreline, the Spin Doctors maintained control against the young Griffins, dictating the tempo in crucial moments before closing out each set with authority.

Calado led Savouge with 14 points, while Gampong and Torres added 10 and 8, respectively. Caritativo, who came in the third set, chipped in six quick points.

The Griffins’ CJ Segui delivered 19 points in a valiant effort, but the young squad fell short of completing a podium finish in their first semis appearance since 2022.