Francis Saura Leads King Crunchers Despite Four Players Rested
Criss Cross swept AEP-Cabstars, 25-15, 25-12, 25-20, despite resting four regular contributors during Sunday’s Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference match. Francis Saura scored 13 points as the defending champion King Crunchers completed their fifth consecutive victory in only 71 minutes.
Criss Cross Sweeps AEP-Cabstars to Remain Unbeaten
Daily Tribune reporter Mark Escarlote documented Criss Cross’ straight-set victory Sunday at the Playtime Filoil Centre in San Juan. The King Crunchers completed the 25-15, 25-12, 25-20 sweep within 71 minutes and improved their conference record to 5-0.
Criss Cross rested Noel Kampton, Amil Pacinio, Manuel Sumanguid, and Lloyd Josafat while providing other players with expanded opportunities. The defending champions still controlled all three sets, winning the second frame by 13 points before completing the sweep.
Image from: onesportsphl / Instagram
King Crunchers Win Without Four Regular Contributors
Criss Cross completed its fifth consecutive victory without four regular contributors, while Saura led the adjusted lineup with 13 points. The King Crunchers also committed only nine errors across three sets, compared with 22 miscues from AEP-Cabstars.
Saura Scores 13 Points to Lead Criss Cross Sweep
Saura finished with a match-high 13 points from 10 successful attacks, two kill blocks, and one service ace. Jude Garcia followed with 11 points, recording seven attacks, three blocks, and one ace during the straight-set victory.
Lucca Mamone and Poy Colinares contributed seven points apiece, while Nico Almendras added five for the unbeaten King Crunchers. Jaron Requinton, Rex Intal, and Kennedy Batas each scored three points as Criss Cross received production throughout its adjusted lineup.
Saura Credits Tai Bundit’s System After Fifth Victory
Saura credited Criss Cross’ adherence to head coach Tai Bundit’s system after the King Crunchers extended their unbeaten conference start. The veteran middle blocker also connected the team’s 5-0 record with consistently following the coaching staff’s established approach.
“Masaya ako sa nagawa ng team namin. Nanalo kami ngayon kasi as much as possible, sinusunod namin ‘yung sistema ni Coach Tai (Bundit), which is maganda naman ‘yung resulta,” Saura said.
“That’s why nag-5-0 kami sa awa rin ng Diyos, so talagang sumusunod lang kami sa sistema ni coach Tai,” Saura added.
Criss Cross Controls Blocks, Attacks and Errors
Criss Cross finished with a 39-31 advantage in successful attacks while recording 11 blocks against five from AEP-Cabstars. The King Crunchers also held a 3-2 edge in service aces during their fifth consecutive Invitational Conference victory.
Criss Cross committed only nine errors across three sets, while AEP-Cabstars surrendered 22 points through its own miscues. Adrian Villados recorded 18 excellent sets after producing 38 against National University-Archipelago Builders during Criss Cross’ previous match.
Villados Records 18 Excellent Sets in Victory
Villados finished with 18 excellent sets while directing Criss Cross during its 71-minute straight-set victory over AEP-Cabstars. His performance accompanied five-point-or-better contributions from Saura, Garcia, Mamone, Colinares, and Almendras in the adjusted King Crunchers lineup.
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AEP-Cabstars Falls to 1-4 After Second Straight Loss
AEP-Cabstars suffered its second consecutive defeat and dropped to 1-4, leaving the club ninth in the Invitational Conference standings. Dave Lardizabal led the Cabstars with 10 points, becoming their only player who reached double figures against Criss Cross.
John Santiagudo contributed eight points, while Leo Aringo added another six during AEP-Cabstars’ fourth defeat through five matches. The Cabstars scored 31 points through attacks but finished behind Criss Cross in attacks, blocks, aces, and errors.
Lardizabal Leads Cabstars With 10 Points
Lardizabal paced AEP-Cabstars with 10 points as the club absorbed its second consecutive defeat during the Invitational Conference. Santiagudo followed with eight points and Aringo contributed six, while no other Cabstars player reached double-digit scoring against Criss Cross.
Criss Cross Improves to 5-0 Before ClearSkiiin Match
Criss Cross improved to 5-0 and temporarily moved atop the standings after completing its fifth consecutive Invitational Conference victory. The defending champions were scheduled to face ClearSkiiin on Wednesday at 5 p.m. at the same San Juan venue.
AEP-Cabstars was scheduled to meet National University-Archipelago Builders Wednesday at 1 p.m. following its second consecutive defeat. The Cabstars entered that matchup at 1-4 while attempting to end their losing streak against another semifinal contender.
Both Teams Return Wednesday at Filoil Centre
Criss Cross was scheduled to face ClearSkiiin at 5 p.m. Wednesday while pursuing its sixth consecutive Invitational Conference victory. AEP-Cabstars was scheduled to meet NU at 1 p.m. that afternoon while seeking its second tournament victory.
Analytical Breakdown: Criss Cross Tactical Depth Challenges Rivals
Criss Cross’ greatest strength is preserving its tactical structure despite resting several regulars, demonstrating impressive depth across multiple positions. Low-error volleyball and disciplined blocking allow different lineups to maintain control without depending heavily on individual scoring performances. That flexibility should strengthen Criss Cross against semifinal contenders, especially when fatigue and tactical adjustments demand reliable contributions beyond starters.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Criss Cross-AEP-Cabstars final score?
Criss Cross swept AEP-Cabstars, 25-15, 25-12, 25-20, during their 2026 Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference match at Filoil Centre.
What was Criss Cross’ record after beating AEP-Cabstars?
Criss Cross improved to 5-0 after sweeping AEP-Cabstars and completing its fifth consecutive victory in the Invitational Conference.
Who led Criss Cross against AEP-Cabstars?
Francis Saura led Criss Cross with 13 points from 10 successful attacks, two kill blocks, and one ace.
Which Criss Cross players rested against AEP-Cabstars?
Noel Kampton, Amil Pacinio, Manuel Sumanguid, and Lloyd Josafat rested during Criss Cross’ straight-set victory over AEP-Cabstars.
Who was Criss Cross scheduled to play next?
Criss Cross was scheduled to face ClearSkiiin Wednesday at 5 p.m. while pursuing its sixth consecutive Invitational Conference victory.
Disclaimer: Headline Image from Tiebreaker Times on Facebook.
