Criss Cross setter Adrian Villados during their game against Cignal in the 2025 Spikers' Turf Invitational Conference, November 2, 2025 at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan. PVL Media
MANILA -- Criss Cross is still unbeaten in the 2025 Spikers' Turf Invitational Conference after a hard-earned four-set victory over rival Cignal HD, Sunday night at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Adrian Villados orchestrated the King Crunchers' 25-23, 24-26, 25-22, 25-18 over the Super Spikers, which hiked their record to 3-0.
The playmaker finished with 34 excellent sets, while Jude Garcia topscored for Criss Cross with 24 points on 20 attacks, three kills, and an ace.
"Masaya kasi nanalo, pero siguro marami pa po kaming kulang. Pagtatrabahuhan namin, lalo na 'yung second set na ang dami naming mistakes," said Villados, an Arellano University product.
"Masaya saka challenging kasi Cignal 'yan. Masaya rin kasi nandiyan 'yung mga kuya ko, gina-guide ako kaya magaan maglaro sa loob ng court," he added.
Criss Cross pounced on a string of errors by Cignal in the fourth set, turning a relatively close 21-18 count into a comfortable win. A JP Bugaoan attack error wrapped up the match for the King Crunchers.
In all, the Super Spikers committed 28 unforced errors in the match.
Noel Kampton, despite struggling in the fourth, still managed to put up 16 points and 11 excellent receptions in his first Criss Cross-Cignal rivalry match, while Jaron Requinton added 14 points and five excellent digs.
John Pepito also played big, registering 19 excellent receptions and seven excellent digs to lead the King Crunchers' floor defense.
Jude Garcia of Criss Cross in action against Cignal in the 2025 Spikers' Turf Invitational Conference, November 2, 2025 at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan. PVL Media
Criss Cross will look to sustain its momentum against another contender in Savouge on Wednesday, 4 p.m. at the Paco Arena.
Meanwhile, the Super Spikers slid to 2-1 and are now tied with the Spin Doctors, Alpha Insurance, and University of Santo Tomas-Gameville from the second to fifth spots in the league.
Steven Rotter paced Cignal with 22 points on 18 attacks and four blocks.
Louie Ramirez finished with 14 points and 10 excellent receptions, while Lloyd Josafat added 11 markers for the Super Spikers, who absorbed a major blow late in the third set when Jau Umandal injured his right ankle after diving for a loose ball and crashing into the team's bench.
Cignal will look to bounce back against the winless PGJC-Navy also on Wednesday at 6 p.m.