Spikers' Turf: Criss Cross draws first blood in finals duel vs. Savouge 

Criss Cross got its payback win against Savouge, this time in the 2026 Spikers' Turf Open Conference finals, pulling off a 25-20, 26-28, 25-18, 25-20 win in Game 1 on Wednesday at the Filoil Centre. 

The King Crunchers leaned on battle-tested Jude Garcia and Jaron Requinton as they avenged their semifinals loss to the Spin Doctors and moved a win away from back-to-back titles. 

Garcia sizzled for 26 points built on 23 attacks and three blocks laced with six digs while Requinton delivered 18 markers and eight digs. Noel Kampton shone with 12 points and 18 receptions to help the cause. 

Criss Cross, who bowed in a five-set affair to Savouge in the single-round semifinals, staged a wild comeback in Set 2 after staring at a 22-24 deficit. They forced three deadlocks in that extended frame, but Savouge eventually scored two consecutive points from Louie Ramirez and JP Bugaoan that allowed them to equalize. 

The King Crunchers convincingly secured Set 3 before Garcia and Kampton delivered the final blows in Set 4 to ultimately dump Savouge and near its second straight title after seizing its breakthrough title in the previous Invitational Conference. 

Criss Cross will look to finish off the series on Friday. 

—JKC, GMA News