Jude Garcia and the Criss Cross King Crunchers are embracing the challenge of taking on the defending champions Cignal HD Spikers in the 2024 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference.
The Criss Cross King Crunchers have been making waves in the 2024 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference.
Parading an eclectic blend of seasoned veterans from both indoor and beach volleyball circuits, the recently-assembled powerhouse has taken the league by storm, leaving a trail of victories in its wake.
With a resounding 4-0 start to the conference, the King Crunchers are undeniably on a winning high. However, looming on the horizon is their biggest challenge yet – a showdown against the defending champions Cignal HD Spikers.
Like Criss Cross, Cignal boasts an undefeated 4-0 record, setting the stage for an epic clash between two titans on Sunday, April 14, at the PhilSports Arena.
Jude Garcia, who has emerged as the King Crunchers ace, understands the magnitude of the match ahead, saying that he and his teammates will carry a challenger mentality versus the HD Spikers.
“Siyempre challenge pa rin kasi sila ‘yung champion team, so malaking experience sa amin na makalaban sila na champion. Icha-challenge namin sila,” Garcia vowed.
“Kami ‘yung magcha-challenge talaga kasi siyempre sila ‘yung champion. Pagpupursigihan namin every point.
In a prelude to the marquee clash, the King Crunchers tested their mettle against the erstwhile-unbeaten D’Navigators, carving out a hard-earned 25-20, 20-25, 32-30, 25-14 victory at the Paco Arena on Wednesday night.
The four-set effort did not just allow Criss Cross to shake off the rust from the Holy Week break but also pick up more steam heading into their biggest acid test.
“Siyempre sobrang laki ng confidence namin ngayon kasi undefeated kami pero sabi ko nga, one game at a time, kailangan namin magpurisigi at every point,” said Garcia, who dropped a game-high 19 points over the D’Navigators.
“One point at a time, one game at a time. Nandoon pa rin ‘yung tiwala namin sa isa’t isa. ‘Yun nga na laging sinasabi ni Coach Tai [Bundit] na ‘Happy, happy’ pa rin kahit malayo ‘yung score o dikit ‘yung score, kailangan ‘Happy, happy’ tapos compose pa rin ‘yung sarili.”