nextbet Spikers’ Turf: Gian Glorioso steps up for Criss Cross

Criss Cross’ Gian Glorioso during Spikers’ Turf.–Photo from Spikers’ Turf

MANILA, Philippines — Gian Glorioso is ready to step up for Criss Cross whenever his number is called.

When the King Crunchers needed someone to fill the big shoes left by injured starter Kim Malabunga, the middle blocker rose to the occasion to help his squad finish on top of the 2024 Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference standings after the elimination round.

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Glorioso’s pair of exceptional performances propelled the semifinal-bound Criss Cross to a league-best 8-1 win-loss record.

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The 6-foot-4 star sizzled with 15 points on eight attacks, five blocks, and two aces in the King Crunchers’ 25-8, 25-13, 25-7 sweep of the also-ran Chichi DHTSI Brotherhood on Wednesday at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

The Ateneo de Manila University product followed it up four days later with a 10-point outing highlighted by three kill blocks to power Criss Cross in trouncing fellow semifinalists, Savouge Spin Doctors, 25-22, 25-21, 25-22, at FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

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Leading Criss Cross to its second straight semifinal appearance since joining the premier men’s volleyball league in the Open Conference was enough for Glorioso to earn the nod as the Spikers’ Turf Press Corps Player of the Week for the period of November 25 to December 1.

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“‘Yung collective goal lang [is] to win the championship. ‘Yun lang naman. I just want to do my best to help the team in any way that I can,” Glorioso said.

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Glorioso was unanimously voted by print and online reporters covering the beat for the weekly honor over his teammate Nico Almendras, Cignal’s Mark Calado, Eugene Gloria of EcoOil-La Salle, PGJC-Navy’s Greg Dolor, and Savouge’s Shawie Caritativo.

Glorioso became the second King Cruncher to receive the recognition after his teammate Jude Garcia won back-to-back in the previous weeks of the season-ending tournament.

Article continues after this advertisement READ: Spikers’ Turf: Criss Cross cruises, FEU soars to 3-0

Reaching the semis was just the first step to their goal as the veteran middle blocker seeks to bring glory to the Rebisco-backed squad after losing in the Open Conference finals.

“We’re more hungry [for a title] this conference kasi parang natikman na namin eh ,like we were almost there, kulang na lang. So, definitely, we’re more motivated this conference and ‘yun din, tiwala din kami sa sarili namin na gawin iyong best namin,” Glorioso said.

Criss Cross will battle in the round-robin semis archrival Cignal, DN Steel-Far Eastern University, Savouge, and Japanese guest team, Kondohgumi Hyogo.

The semifinal round fires off on Wednesday at FilOil EcoOil Arena in San Juan.

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