HD Spikers savor ‘special’ triumph
CIGNAL celebrates after posting a straight-set win over Criss Cross to secure its ninth straight Spikers’ Turf title late Sunday.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF SPIKERS’ TURF
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CIGNAL celebrates after posting a straight-set win over Criss Cross to secure its ninth straight Spikers’ Turf title late Sunday.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF SPIKERS’ TURF
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Cignal extended its reign as the Spikers’ Turf most successful team after clinching its ninth title and becoming the first club in league history to capture a rare three-peat in the Open Conference.
HD Spikers coach Dexter Clamor said their 25-22, 25-16, 28-26 victory over Criss Cross in Game 3 of their best-of-three finals series late Sunday was truly special as it elevated them among the most successful volleyball teams in the country.
“This one is truly special,” Clamor told the reporters after the game.
“Back in 2023, we won the Open Conference with players who are now with Criss Cross. In 2024, we had a completely revamped team and won again.”
“Now in 2025, we went up against an undefeated squad reinforced by Marck (Espejo), and people might’ve thought we were at a disadvantage man-for-man. But we worked as one team — not as individuals — and that’s what made the difference.”
Despite facing internal challenges and injuries throughout the conference, Clamor credited the team’s collective resilience and unity.
“There were a lot of problems — injuries, internal issues — but the good thing is we resolved them right away. Everyone contributed. Owa (Retamar) really worked on our offensive system, Louie (Ramirez) was aggressive, and (Steven) Rotter stepped up. Everyone followed the game plan. We truly prayed for this, and God delivered,” Clamor added.
Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) Steven Rotter and Louie Ramirez delivered the knockout punches in an extended third set, both finishing with 15 points to erase multiple set points from the determined King Crunchers. Team captain JP Bugaoan and Lloyd Josafat added eight markers apiece in the title-clinching win.
Rotter capped a stellar conference by also bagging the Best Opposite Spiker award. He was joined by teammates Vince Lorenzo as the Best Libero and JP Bugaoan as the Best Middle Blocker among the individual awardees.
Criss Cross, which reached the finals with an unbeaten record prior to the series, was once again led by Jude Garcia, who won his third MVP award.
King Crunchers’ Gian Glorioso was recognized as one of the top blockers, while Ish Polvorosa took home the Best Setter award.
