King Crunchers dominate with a perfect 10-0 elimination sweep

Criss Cross secured a dominant sweep in the elimination round, easily dispatching 3B in straight sets, 25-23, 25-15, 25-16, to close out the 2026 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference on Friday at the Paco Arena.

The top-seeded King Crunchers showcased their power from start to finish, transforming what was expected to be a routine victory into a statement performance as they entered the next phase of the tournament—organized by Sports Vision—undefeated at 10-0.

This marked the third consecutive elimination-round sweep for the Rebisco-backed team, following a flawless 10-0 run in the 2025 Open Conference and a 7-0 record in the Invitational Conference, where they claimed their first-ever championship.

“First and foremost, I want to thank the management for their unwavering support—it’s always there. Credit also to my teammates because we all worked together for this 10-0 in the eliminations,” said four-time MVP Jude Garcia.

“But of course, we’re back to zero now because we’re heading into the semis. Every game is crucial, so we need to give 100 percent effort,” he added.

Criss Cross dominated the attack, outscoring 3B 45-28, a gap that proved pivotal as they took control after a closely contested opening set.

Alche Gupiteo led the charge with a game-high 19 points, while Adrian Villados set up the offense with 16 excellent sets. The rest of the King Crunchers saw limited action in a match they controlled from start to finish.

Garcia contributed six points, while Jaron Requinton, Kim Malabunga, and Lucca Mamone each chipped in five in the swift one-hour, six-minute victory.

On the other hand, 3B finished fifth with a 2-8 record.

John Vincent Ramos was the lone double-digit scorer for the Event Masters, registering 12 points with 11 attacks and one block.

Christhian Olaes was limited to five points, with three attacks and two kill blocks, while Joshua Datu added four, as the team once again felt the absence of Carl Berdal.