THE Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference kicks into high gear today (Wednesday) as the race to the finals begins with two high-octane semifinal clashes that promise to electrify fans at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.
Records from the eliminations may now be irrelevant, but the intense rivalries forged earlier are sure to fire up the players as they push for a spot in the championship.
The round-robin tournament opens with a bang as elimination-round leader Criss Cross faces a spirited DN Steel FEU squad at 4 p.m., followed by the much-anticipated showdown between Cignal and Savouge at 6 p.m.
Adding an exciting twist to the semis is Japan’s Hyogo squad, the lone guest team, which arrives today. The Japanese team, known for its disciplined and precise play, will observe its competition before showcasing its skills on Friday.
Hyogo’s presence brings a fresh dynamic to the tournament organized by Sports Vision, raising the stakes as the teams strive to adjust and excel against new challenges.
Criss Cross enters the semis on a six-game winning streak, with stars like Jude Garcia, Gian Glorioso and Nico Almendras leading the charge.
Almendras, fresh from a tournament-best 19-point performance, emphasized the importance of following coach Tai Bundit’s game plan, highlighting the team’s discipline and focus.
“Siguro kung ano lang din ‘yung makikita ng mga coaches namin, kung ano ‘yung sasabihin sa’min na dapat namin aralin, kung ano ‘yung dapat naming panoorin, ‘yun ‘yung gagawin namin (Maybe we’ll just follow whatever our coaches observe, whatever they tell us to study, and whatever they say we need to watch, that’s what we’ll do),” said Almendras, a former league MVP.
On the other hand, the Ultras are hungry for redemption, relying on gritty players such as Dryx Saavedra, Mikko Espartero and Jelord Talisayan to overturn their elims-round loss in the tournament supported by ArenaPlus, Mikasa, and Alpha Insurance & Surety Company.
Meanwhile, the HD Spikers are looking to settle the score with the Spin Doctors, who handed them their only loss in the elims. On a seven-game winning run, Cignal’s head coach Dexter Clamor is keen to avoid complacency, reminding his team that past victories don’t guarantee future success.
“Malaking bagay ‘yun sa amin. Hindi kami magiging complacent pa rin going to the semifinals, it doesn’t necessarily mean na kung natalo namin ‘yung mga pumasok sa semis eh mananalo na kami agad (That’s a big deal for us. We still won’t be complacent going into the semifinals; it doesn’t necessarily mean that just because we’ve beaten the teams that made it to the semis, we’ll automatically win),” said Clamor.
The HD Spikers will lean on star setters like Owa Retamar to activate their hard-hitting arsenal of Louie Ramirez, Jau Umandal and Mark Calado.
The Spin Doctors, however, are no pushovers, with dynamic players like Norwel Sanama, Hero Austria and Sherwin Caritativo ready to make their mark.
Games Wednesday
4 p.m. – DN Steel FEU
vs Criss Cross
6 p.m. – Savouge vs Cignal
