Jude Garcia earned the Spikers’ Turf Press Corps Player of the Week presented by Pilipinas Live honors for March 4 to 8 after helping the Criss Cross King Crunchers complete a 5-0 opening-round sweep.
Criss Cross has emerged unscathed in the first round of the 2026 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference, all thanks to Jude Garcia’s consistency and strict discipline.
Leading by example, Garcia guided the King Crunchers to a five-game sweep in the opening salvo of the elimination round with a pair of superb outings over the 3B Even Masters and the Savouge Spin Doctors.
His heroic displays bagged Garcia the Spikers’ Turf Press Corps Player of the Week presented by Pilipinas Live recognition for the period of March 4 to 8.
Garcia had 19 attacks, five blocks, and two aces to tow the King Crunchers past the Event Masters, 22-25, 25-10, 25-13, 25-15, on Friday at the Filoil Centre.
[RELATED: Spikers' Turf: Jude Garcia, Criss Cross nears first-round sweep with win over 3B]
The first-ever Spikers’ Turf Season MVP then led Criss Cross’ balanced attack with 13 points to submit the Spin Doctors, 25-23, 29-27, 25-17, on Sunday to complete the first round sweep.
[RELATED: Spikers’ Turf: Adrian Villados, Criss Cross overpower Savouge for 5-0 start]
“Talagang lahat ng teams sa Spikers’ Turf, pinaghahandaan kami. Gusto kaming talunin, so dapat focus lang every game and every match. Kailangan 100 percent talaga, so dapat huwag kaming maging complacent sa kalagayan namin kahit wala pa kaming talo,” said Garcia.
“Kailangan trabahuhin pa every game, every set. Kailangan talaga yung focus sa loob ng court, nandoon pa rin. Kailangan hindi maging kampante kahit sino kalaban,” added Garcia, who continues to be an explosive force for the team despite the loaded roster.
The Far Eastern University product beat out fellow King Cruncher Alche Gupiteo and Adrian Villados, as well as Louie Ramirez of Savouge, JM Ronquillo and Cian Silang of Alpha Insurance, and Jay Rack De La Noche of AEP Cabstars for the weekly honor deliberated by print and online reporters covering the pioneering men’s volleyball league organized by Sports Vision.
Garcia credited Criss Cross’ steady execution and fluid flow of its system under Coach Tai Bundit for its success.
“Nag-stick lang kami sa plan ni Coach Tai na happy-happy lang. Kailangan talaga iba ‘yung rhythm ng team,” he shared.
Garcia and the King Crunchers will look to carry their winning momentum into the second round when they face the Alpha Insurance Protectors on Wednesday at 5 p.m. at the same venue in San Juan City.