Criss Cross King Crunchers after beating Savouge Spin Docs to win the 2026 Spikers’ Turf Open Convention championship. –PVL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — After two straight championships, double MVP winner Jude Garcia believes that Criss Cross is simply getting began in cementing its legacy within the Spikers’ Turf.
Garcia obtained his fifth consecutive Convention MVP award and emerged as the perfect participant of the finals after pouring 27 factors in Criss Cross’ maiden Open Convention crown after outlasting Savouge in a winner-take-all Recreation 3, 28-26, 25-17, 26-28, 25-23, on Sunday at Filoil Centre in San Juan Metropolis.
READ: Spikers’ Turf: Criss Cross outlasts Savouge for first Open title
Of their fifth straight finals look, the King Crunchers grew to become two-time Spikers’ Turf champions, including one other to their trophy case, together with final yr’s Invitational Convention run in opposition to Kindai College of Japan.
However Garcia, who additionally gained the Finest Reverse Spiker award, stays hungry for extra.
“We’re simply getting began. I don’t suppose we will name this a dynasty but,” mentioned Garcia in Filipino. “We nonetheless need to hold working for it each season. Nothing is assured, so we have now to earn every little thing.”
Jude Garcia talks about Criss Cross’ second straight championship. #SpikersTurf2026 | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/KnXWtFZ5Bd
— INQUIRER Sports activities (@inquirersports) April 19, 2026
The 27-year-old outdoors spiker-turned-opposite spiker topped three main statistical classes within the Open Convention, main in scoring with 201 factors on 162 assaults, 27 blocks, and 12 aces. He additionally ranked first in spiking with a 50.78 % success charge and first in serving with 0.27 aces per set.
He made his presence felt on protection, inserting fourth in blocking at 0.61 per set and eighth in digging at 0.95 per set, underscoring his all-around worth past scoring.
Garcia was additionally named Finals MVP after averaging 21.0 factors per recreation of their grueling three-game championship collection in opposition to the Spin Docs.
After back-to-back runner-up finishes to Cignal, Garcia savored Criss Cross’ breakthrough Open title in opposition to first-time finalist Savouge.
“It feels actually good. I instructed my teammates in the course of the third and fourth units that nothing comes straightforward. Each level and each set, we have now to work for it. And once you work exhausting for it, the championship feels much more rewarding. That’s how we had been in a position to win the sport earlier,” mentioned Garcia.
The Far Japanese College product devoted one other historic convention to his household and the entire staff.
“It feels wonderful. Although my child wasn’t right here, it nonetheless feels so particular to win one other championship,” mentioned Garcia. “However I couldn’t have finished it with out my teammates, the administration, and the teaching workers. Everybody gave their full help.”
Spikers’ Turf Elite Crew
Spikers’ Turf cream of the crop for the 2026 Open Convention. –PVL PHOTO
In the meantime, Savouge’s Shawie Caritativo and Criss Cross’ Alche Gupiteo had been named Finest Outdoors Spikers, with their two-way performances incomes them the popularity.
Caritativo secured his third Finest Outdoors Spiker quotation after ending ninth in scoring with 115 factors. He ranked fifth in serving at 0.15 aces per set and sixth in spiking with a 40.77 % success charge, whereas additionally inserting third in receiving with a 59.15 effectivity mark and tenth in digging at 0.91 per set.
Gupiteo, in his first Spikers’ Turf stint, made a right away influence by ending fourth in scoring with 159 factors. He ranked third in spiking at 47.19 %, eighth in serving at 0.11 aces per set, and fifth in receiving with a 55.46 effectivity ranking en path to his first Finest Outdoors Spiker award.
JP Bugaoan of the Spin Docs and Lloyd Josafat of the King Crunchers had been named Finest Center Blockers after anchoring their respective groups with regular presence on the web.
Bugaoan earned his fifth Finest Center Blocker quotation after main the league in blocking with 0.87 per set and a complete of 41 blocks. He additionally completed fifth in scoring with 131 factors, making him the one center blocker inside the highest 10 scorers. Josafat captured his first Finest Center Blocker award after rating third in blocking with 0.80 per set and 35 complete blocks—the second-highest mark within the league. He additionally tallied 93 factors for fifteenth in scoring and third amongst all center blockers.
Criss Cross’ Adrian Villados and AEP-Cabstars’ Vince Lorenzo accomplished the Elite Crew, profitable Finest Setter and Finest Libero, respectively, after stellar campaigns that anchored their groups’ offensive move and defensive stability.
Villados secured his second Finest Setter quotation after main the league with 5.84 wonderful units per set, whereas Lorenzo earned his third Finest Libero award after topping the league in digging with 2.30 per set and rating fourth in receiving at 57.99 % effectivity.
