The 2024 Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference preliminaries wrapped up on Sunday with the King Crunchers securing the top seeding in the semifinals, thanks to a 25-22, 25-21, 25-22 sweep of Savouge at the Filoil EcoOil Centre. This victory completed a dominant six-game winning streak for Criss Cross, as they tied their archrivals, the Cignal HD Spikers, with an 8-1 record. However, Criss Cross edged out Cignal for the top spot based on their superior points ratio.

Nico Almendras put on a stellar performance, leading Criss Cross with a game-high 19 points, including 15 attacks, three aces, and one block in a swift one-hour, 31-minute contest. His strong showing proved crucial as Criss Cross head into the semifinals with plenty of momentum.

“Importante sa amin ‘tong panalo na ‘to kasi ‘yun nga, magkakalaban pa kami sa semis so siguro kung ano ‘yung nilaro namin ngayon, mapapanood naman namin ‘yun and syempre mapapagaralan din,” said Almendras, reflecting on the significance of the win and the upcoming challenge in the semifinals.

Despite a late-game rally from Savouge, who managed to close the gap in the third set, Criss Cross capitalized on a series of reception errors, and Almendras’ two key aces gave them a 22-19 lead. The match was then sealed with crucial points from Jude Garcia and Giles Torres, with Gian Glorioso’s quick attack ending the match.

In addition to Almendras’ performance, Criss Cross had solid contributions from Glorioso, who scored 10 points including three blocks, and Garcia, who had 10 points along with 10 excellent receptions and four excellent digs. Ish Polvorosa also orchestrated the offense with 19 excellent sets, while Rex Intal added eight points, showcasing the depth of the team as they prepared for the semifinals.

Despite the loss, Savouge, which finished in fourth place with a 6-3 record, showed resilience and pushed Criss Cross to the limit. With a few adjustments, Savouge remains optimistic about their chances in the semifinals, ready to make a strong push for the title.

Norwel Sanama had an efficient game for Savouge, scoring 18 points on 15 attacks, while Torres added 11 points. The Spin Doctors now focus on improving their performance as the stakes get higher in the next phase of the competition.

In other action, La Salle-EcoOil secured a 25-19, 25-22, 25-18 victory over VNS, finishing their campaign with a 5-4 record. Despite a four-game losing streak that followed a promising start, the Green Oilers’ victory over VNS helped them secure fifth place. Head coach Jose Roque reflected on the team’s season, acknowledging the lessons learned and looking ahead to future competitions, including the UAAP.

Eugene Gloria stepped up for La Salle-EcoOil, leading the team with 13 points, all from attacks. Vince Maglinao added 11 points, while Yoyong Mendoza contributed eight markers. For VNS, CJ Segui was the standout player, scoring 16 points and contributing nine excellent receptions.

The 2024 Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference semifinals promise more exciting action as the competition intensifies. As the top-seeded King Crunchers move into the next phase, they remain the team to beat, with a strong and consistent performance throughout the preliminaries.