Jude Garcia of Criss Cross in action against Cignal HD in the 2025 Spikers' Turf Open Conference, March 14, 2025 at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan. PVL Media

MANILA -- Criss Cross took a huge step towards completing a sweep of the 2025 Spikers' Turf Open Conference elimination round after once again defeating Cignal HD, Friday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

The King Crunchers recovered from a meltdown in the opening set to turn back the HD Spikers, 19-25, 25-14, 25-20, 25-19, and improve to 8-0 in the competition.

Criss Cross has now won both of their matches against the defending champions this conference, after sweeping Cignal HD in their first-round showdown last week. They are now just two wins away from a perfect elimination round campaign.

READ: Criss Cross overwhelms Cignal to claim solo lead

"The team just worked really hard. Even though we lost the first set, we quickly moved on and focused on the next. I told them, 'It's the second set now, let's just lock in and play our game,'" said Criss Cross' Jaron Requinton in Filipino, after scoring 18 points, all on kills.

They had to overcome a poor closing stretch in the opening frame where Cignal HD rallied to take the win after Criss Cross had controlled most of the action.

Anchored by Manuel Sumanguid's defense and Ish Polvorosa's playmaking, the King Crunchers regained their composure and dominated the ensuing frames. Polvorosa set up Requinton, Gian Glorioso, Nico Almendras and Kim Malabunga for crucial hits in a decisive run in Set 4 that gave them a commanding 15-8 lead.

Jude Garcia, the back-to-back Spikers' Turf MVP, matched Requinton with 18 points on top of 16 excellent receptions. Almendras was equally impressive, finishing with 14 points and seven excellent digs.

Criss Cross's middle blockers made their presence felt, as Glorioso and Malabunga delivered 13 and 10 points, respectively.

Sumanguid, on the other hand, stood tall with 16 excellent digs and 16 receptions, while Polvorosa orchestrated the attack masterfully with 28 excellent sets.

Meanwhile, Cignal suffered its second loss (6-2) despite a 17-point effort from Steven Rotter. JP Bugaoan chipped in 14 points, while Jau Umandal, returning from a two-game absence due to a hyperextended knee, contributed nine points before exiting early in the fourth set with visible discomfort. He did not return to the game.

Wendel Miguel, who scored 15 points against Criss Cross in their first-round encounter, struggled mightily this time, managing just a single point.

The HD Spikers will aim to bounce back when they face the Navy Sealions on Sunday. 

Standing in the King Crunchers' bid for a sweep are Savouge on Sunday and Navy on Wednesday.