Adrian Villados crowned Finals MVP as Criss Cross captures breakthrough Spikers' Turf crown

Adi Villados is a champion again, this time on a bigger stage as he steered Criss Cross to a hard-fought 25-15, 25-21, 23-25, 23-25, 22-20 victory over guest team Kindai University to rule the 2025 Spikers' Turf Invitational Conference on Saturday at the Filoil Centre. 

Villados, a former Arellano standout and NCAA champion, joined forces with Conference MVP Jude Garcia to help the King Crunchers capture their first-ever crown after multiple bridesmaid finishes in the past. 

Villados collected 34 excellent sets in the title-clinching win, which resulted in Garcia's 35-point explosion that was anchored on 34 attacks and one ace. Nico Almendras and Paul Colinares each chipped in 15 markers while Noel Kampton chimed in with 13 in the match that lasted for two hours and 26 minutes. 

"Masaya po kasi ayun, nakamit namin 'yung championship, so yung mga awards po bonus lang talaga. All the sacrifices ginawa namin, everything nagbunga po lahat," said Villados, who led Arellano to a breakthrough title in NCAA Season 100.

"'Yun nga po, malaking part para sa team na wala si kuya Ish (Polvorosa), kaya binigyan ako nila ng tiwala nila coach para gampanan ko. Ang ginawa ko lang is perform lang ako every game, every training, 100 percent."

Villados emerged as the Finals MVP and Best Setter while Garcia also copped the Best Outside Spiker alongside Jau Umandal of Cignal. Giles Jeffer Torres and Colinares were hailed as the Best Middle Blockers while Aun Ryutaro and Kose Yuito of Kindai University claimed the Best Opposite Spiker and Best Libero plums, respectively. 

Criss Cross had come within reach of a maiden title three times, only to settle for runner-up each time.

In back-to-back Open Conferences, the King Crunchers fell prey to powerhouse Cignal. In the 2024 Invitational edition, they also could not solve the Cignal puzzle after absorbing yet another finals heartbreak. 

—JKC, GMA Integrated News