Criss Cross bounced back in style, dispatching PGJC Navy with a dominant 25-17, 25-18, 25-22 victory to reclaim fourth spot in the Spikers' Turf Invitational Conference eliminations at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig on Friday.
Shaking off the frustration from a grueling five-set loss to the HD Spikers last Sunday, where they nearly completed a comeback from two sets down, the King Crunchers came out strong, sweeping the Sealions in one hour and 25 minutes.
The decisive win put Criss Cross on equal footing with rival Cignal at 3-1 (win-loss), while marking a renewed bid for the season-ending tournament championship after narrowly missing the Open Conference title to the HD Spikers.
“Sobrang happy kasi nakuha namin ‘yung game pero hindi pa kasi nagtatapos ‘yung season eh so kailangan pang pukpukin ‘yung sarili namin sa training and then i-apply dito sa game,” said Criss Cross spiker Jude Garcia, who followed up his 35-point explosion with an 18-point performance.
He also finished with nine receptions and five digs.
Despite Navy’s two-game winning streak and a spirited third-set rally that brought them within 22-24 behind Nilo Jasmin and Greg Dolor after trailing by nine points, the Sealions couldn't hold off Chumason Njigha’s powerful final hit, which deflected off their defenders and sailed out of bounds.
In contrast to its game against Cignal, where Garcia struggled to find consistent support, this time Francis Saura and Nico Almendras stepped up, contributing 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Almendras, a newcomer from National U, also showcased his defensive prowess, delivering an impressive 17 excellent receptions.
Criss Cross setter Ish Polvorosa once again orchestrated the attack with 17 excellent sets, effectively involving teammates in scoring and other key aspects of the game.
“Our goal is for everyone to contribute, especially in scoring,” said Polvorosa, who took the game’s top honors. “But we also can’t overlook other aspects like receiving and blocking, which made this a total team effort.”
Polvorosa also highlighted the importance of adaptability and strategy, saying: “It’s crucial to adjust to every situation. We can’t keep doing the same things or else we become predictable.”
Though the Sealions put up a fight, they struggled to contain Criss Cross’ attackers, particularly in the first two sets. By the third set, the King Crunchers surged to a 22-13 lead, only faltering briefly as Navy mounted a final comeback attempt.
Criss Cross, meanwhile, eyes another win when it faces Martelli Meats on Wednesday.
Omar Lioc top-scored with 11 points for the Sealions, who dropped to 3-2 at solo sixth place.
Joeven Dela Vega contributed 10 points while Dolor and Jasmin had nine and eight markers, respectively, for PGJC Navy, which will next face De La Salle-EcoOil on Sunday, also at Ynares.
