Criss Cross recovered from a sluggish opening set before asserting its dominance against 3B, posting a 22-25, 25-10, 25-13, 25-15 victory in the 2026 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference on Friday, March 6, at the Filoil Playtime Centre. The win pushed the King Crunchers closer to sweeping the first round of the eliminations in the six-team tournament.

The King Crunchers struggled early as 3B capitalized on their slow start to steal the opening set. Criss Cross quickly regrouped afterward, tightening its defense and unleashing a relentless attack that allowed the team to dictate the pace for the rest of the match.

Jude Garcia led the charge with his best performance of the conference, finishing with 26 points to power Criss Cross to its fourth straight victory. The four-time league Most Valuable Player converted 19 of his 31 attack attempts while adding five kill blocks and two service aces in an all-around performance.

Garcia’s scoring burst helped the King Crunchers build momentum as they prepare for a much-anticipated showdown with fellow unbeaten Savouge Spin Doctors. The clash will close the first phase of the double-round elimination round.

Garcia powers Criss Cross comeback

Garcia admitted the team came out complacent and underestimated its opponent, allowing 3B to gain early control of the match. He stressed the importance of maintaining focus since every team in the league is eager to defeat the defending powerhouse.

“Una syempre naging siguro kampante ‘yung team. Sobrang in-underestimate ‘yung kalaban kaya nakuha ‘yung first set. Kumbaga, talaga lahat ng teams sa Spikers’ Turf, pinaghahandaan kami. Gusto kaming talunin, so dapat focus lang every game and every match. Kailangan 100 percent talaga,” Garcia said.

He added that the team eventually regained its rhythm by following head coach Tai Bundit’s “happy happy” approach, which helped them relax and play with better energy after the opening setback.

“Nag-stick lang kami sa plan ni Coach Tai na happy-happy lang kasi nung first set sobrang seryoso nung set na ‘yun. So kailangan talaga iba ‘yung rhythm ng team, which is naging maganda naman ‘yung palit ng tao,” Garcia said.

Depth lifts King Crunchers

Criss Cross also received valuable support from several teammates who stepped up throughout the match. Alche Gupiteo delivered 12 points and anchored the defensive effort with 13 excellent receptions.

Lloyd Josafat and Jaron Requinton provided a strong boost off the bench, scoring 11 and 10 points respectively to sustain the King Crunchers’ offensive surge. Their contributions helped Criss Cross maintain control as the match progressed.

Setter Adrian Villados orchestrated the offense with 17 excellent sets after coming in for surprise starter Eco Adajar at the start of the second frame. His steady playmaking helped guide the team to the one-hour and 23-minute victory.

After dropping the first set, Criss Cross dominated the statistical battle with a 54-38 advantage in attacks. The King Crunchers also led in blocks, 8-3, and service aces, 6-3 to highlight their control of the contest.

Meanwhile, 3B absorbed its second straight loss and dropped to a 1-3 record in the standings. Carl Berdal led the Event Masters with 12 points and 15 excellent receptions, while Israel Encina chipped in 10 markers.

The Event Masters will try to end their opening-round campaign on a positive note when they face AEP-Cabstars in their final preliminary match.