Spikers’ Turf: Player of the Week Villados steers Criss Cross to unbeaten start

MANILA — Criss Cross has surged to a perfect start in the 2026 Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference, thanks in large part to setter Adrian Villados’ superb playmaking.

The King Crunchers have won their first five assignments, with Villados steering them to back-to-back wins against top contender National University-Archipelago Builders and AEP-Cabstars in the past week. 

His outstanding performances earned Villados a landslide vote to bag the Spikers’ Turf Press Corps Player of the Week for the period of November 3 to 8.

Against the Bulldogs, Villados was credited with 38 excellent sets in the King Crunchers’ 23-25, 25-16, 25-20, 25-20. He also scored three points as Criss Cross handed National U their first loss of the conference.

“Given na talagang most of them sa NU national team players and tall blockers, tall spikers. Mataas na rin ‘yung level ng experience nila. Ginawa lang talaga namin ‘yung best namin and magandang boost ito para sa next game namin. Magandang lesson din ‘yung mga lapses namin,” said Villados.

With Villados pulling the strings, three Criss Cross players finished in double-digits: Jude Garcia with 24 points, Jaron Requinton with 19, and Noel Kampton with 14. 

He also effectively activated middle blockers Lloyd Josafat and Kim Malabunga to contribute with nine and eight points, respectively.

It was mission accomplished for Villados, who took note of the organized and efficient blocking of the Bulldogs.

“‘Yung NU talaga blocking is blocking so ang mindset ko lang ay magkaroon ng kumpyansa ‘yung mga spikers ko and bigyan sila ng space para sa mga blockers na marami silang options kung saan dadalhin ‘yung bola. Tiwala lang din sa sistema ni Coach Tai [Bundit],” said Villados.

He followed it up with another great outing, dishing out 18 excellent sets in a cakewalk over AEP-Cabstars, 25-15, 25-12, 25-20, last Sunday.

Against the Cabstars, Villados showed familiarity with all his teammates, even the seldom-used ones, as Francis Saura took over the scoring chores with 13 points.

Villados edged out teammate Garcia, FEU-DN Steel’s Charles Absin, Alpha Insurance’s Van Book and Lance De Castro, Savouge’s Mark Calado and Joeven Dela Vega, and VNS-Laticrete’s Howard Guerra for the weekly honor deliberated by print and online reporters covering the league.

Criss Cross will aim to extend its undefeated run to six games on Wednesday as it faces Clearskiiin at the Filoil Centre.