One reviewed call nearly made Noel Kampton the villain of Criss Cross’s night. Minutes later, he was the one who steadied the finish, helping the King Crunchers stun Savouge in five sets at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.

Criss Cross rallied from two sets down to beat the Spin Doctors, 22-25, 18-25, 25-16, 25-22, 16-14, on Wednesday night in the 2026 Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference. The win lifted the King Crunchers to 2-0.

Noel Kampton’s Redemption Moment Sparks Criss Cross Comeback

Kampton’s cross-court hit put Criss Cross at match point, 14-12, but Hero Austria saved one for Savouge. Kampton then delivered another apparent match-ending kill and crossed the court to celebrate with Criss Cross fans.

The celebration was short-lived. Savouge challenged the play for a possible centerline violation, and the review instead caught Kampton committing a violation, wiping out the point and forcing a 14-14 deadlock in the deciding set.

Kampton quickly made amends with a down-the-line hit that put Criss Cross back at match point. Lloyd Josafat then blocked JP Bugaoan to seal the reverse sweep, 16-14.

After Josafat’s winning block, Kampton unleashed another emphatic celebration that drew the ire of some Savouge players. He later apologized, saying he got caught up in the moment.

Kampton said his outburst was not aimed at opponents but at his frustration over the earlier call. “Pero ‘yun ‘yung beauty of sports, mali ko rin ‘yun,” he said, owning his part in the sequence.

Criss Cross Joins Three-Way Tie Atop Spikers’ Turf Standings

Jude Garcia unloaded 25 points on 21 attacks, three aces and a block as Criss Cross improved to 2-0. The King Crunchers joined Far Eastern University-DN Steel and ClearSkiiin in a three-way tie atop the standings.

Kampton finished with 15 points in the two-hour, three-minute match. Newcomers Amil Pacinio and Ariel Cacao, who both started in the final three sets, also stepped up. Pacinio scored 13 points, and Cacao dished out 22 excellent sets.

Criss Cross takes on Alpha Insurance on Sunday at 5 p.m. at the same venue, aiming for a third straight win. Savouge, 0-2 after a rough start for its revamped lineup, faces 3B at 1 p.m. that day.

Mark Calado had 27 points on 25 attacks, an ace and a block in a losing effort, while Louie Ramirez added 20. Cian Silang dished out 30 excellent sets, and Vince Lorenzo collected 27 excellent receptions and 10 excellent digs.