Crushed by Criss Cross in all three face-offs in the Open Conference, Cignal showed once again that the Finals is a different battlefield – one where experience, composure and championship poise often outweigh sheer firepower.
With their title defense hanging in the balance, the battle-hardened HD Spikers leaned on their resilience, honed through years of high-stakes encounters, to claw their way back from a 1-2 set deficit and pull through in the decisive fifth frame.
Their gritty 22-25, 25-19, 22-25, 25-21, 15-12 victory over the King Crunchers before an electrified crowd at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum on Wednesday night was a testament to their championship DNA.
Jau Umandal took charge in a nerve-wracking, do-or-die fifth-set battle of power, defense and – most importantly – strategy. He delivered multiple clutch hits, the biggest being a two-handed push that eluded two blockers and barely cleared the net.
That decisive play brought the defending champions to match point after nearly squandering an early 5-1 lead.
As the moment sunk in, Umandal pointed both forefingers to his forehead – an unmistakable signal that intelligence, more than sheer power, is what wins championships.
“We just went back to our goal, to our purpose as a team,” said Umandal in Filipino, whose 19-point explosion earned him Best Player of the Game honors in the two-hour, 16-minute grind-out match.
“We didn’t beat them in any of our three previous matches, so we really set our sights on winning in the finals,” he added, almost speechless as he embraced the magnitude of the victory – one that put them just a win away from defending their crown and proving they still reign supreme over the King Crunchers.
It was a tough, ego-deflating loss for the King Crunchers, who entered the best-of-three finals brimming with confidence after sweeping all 13 of their games from the prelims to the semis – including three dominant wins over the HD Spikers.
But when it mattered most, the HD Spikers found a way.
The King Crunchers valiantly erased a four-point deficit in the fifth set, led by Nico Almendras, whose barrage of stinging hits pulled them within 9-11.
His fiery performance energized his teammates as Jude Garcia blocked Steven Rotter, and Mark Espejo followed with a kill, leveling the score at 11 and setting the stage for a thrilling, tension-filled finish.
Still, Umandal remained unfazed.
With nerves of steel, he responded with an off-the-block hit. Espejo answered with his own to tie it again. But then Umandal struck with a thunderous kill and followed it up with a crafty two-handed push after a solid Wendel Miguel dig, bringing Cignal to match point.
Desperate for a sideout, the King Crunchers had their golden chance – but reigning MVP Garcia, of all people, misfired, sending his attack into the net.
Just like that, the HD Spikers sealed the set, the match, and a crucial psychological 1-0 lead in the series.
"That's very commendable—the heart, the fight. Because in terms of skills, we're almost the same. They might even have the edge, but I think we had the bigger heart, the champion spirit within us,” said Cignal head coach Dexter Clamor.
Middle blocker JP Bugaoan, who suffered from cramps in the fourth and missed the entire decider also delivered a strong performance with 16 points, while Rotter contributed 13 markers.
Miguel, Lloyd Josafat and Martin Bugaoan chipped in nine, seven and six points, respectively, rounding out a well-balanced effort for the HD Spikers.
On the other side, Garcia led Criss Cross with a game-high 21 points, followed by Espejo with 15. Almendras added 13 markers, while Kim Malabunga tallied 10.
The match was an intense, neck-and-neck battle, with Criss Cross narrowly edging out Cignal in attacks, 64-63. Both teams registered nine kill blocks, underscoring their defensive resilience.
However, the HD Spikers gained a slight edge in serving, recording four aces – three more than their opponents. More importantly, they capitalized on their rivals’ miscues, scoring 33 free points off unforced errors, five more than they gave away.