Jude Garcia announced his return as he made sure the Criss Cross King Crunchers put on a show in triumphant Spikers' Turf debut versus the Maverick Hard Hitters.
When the Criss Cross King Crunchers hosted a block party in its rousing Spikers' Turf debut on Friday, Jude Garcia was at the center of the blowout.
Garcia roamed fiercely at the net and stifled the Maverick Hard Hitters with five of the 20 total blocks of the King Crunchers for a winning start in the 2024 Open Conference.
The perennial national beach volleyball stalwart finished with a game-high 18 points, to go along with eight excellent receptions, for a triumphant return to the taraflex.
"Sobrang saya kasi first game, first player of the game, so nakaka-overwhelm," Garcia expressed.
The FEU product last played indoor volleyball for the PGJC-Navy in the 2023 Open Conference before helping the Philippines capture bronze in the 32nd SEA Games.
[ALSO READ: Spikers' Turf: Jaron Requinton, Jude Garcia return to indoor volleyball with Criss Cross]
But more than anything, Garcia is pleased to see the Rebisco-backed squad put months of hard work under the mentorship of seasoned tactician Tai Bundit into display right off the bat.
"Sobrang saya kasi 'yung pinag-ensayuhan namin ng halos two months e na-apply namin sa first game," Garcia said.
"So, sobrang thankful kami sa tiwala na binigay ng management at kay Coach Tai sa lahat ng players kasi halos lahat nakapasok."
Criss Cross, one of the three new club teams in the field, is billed as the biggest threat to defending champion Cignal for its star-studded arsenal.
With high expectations come a considerable amount of pressure, but Garcia said that the King Crunchers remain unshaken.
"'Yung pressure andiyan naman e, pero nasa amin din naman kung paano kami magpe-perform and then matatanda na kami so kaya na namin i-handle 'yung pressure kahit anong pressure 'yan," Garcia said.
Garcia and the rest of the King Crunchers are also putting Bundit's signature mantra to heart.
"Happy, happy lang kasi wala pa e, naguumpisa palang kami. Andiyan naman talaga 'yung expectations ng mga tao so one game at a time, one match at a time," Garcia said.
Criss Cross seeks to build on its breakthrough win when it faces VNS-Nasty next on March 22, Friday at the Ynares Sports Arena.