Pasig City: Jude Garcia’s consistent performance has been pivotal in Criss Cross’s semifinal campaign in the 2024 Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference. His recent contributions have not gone unnoticed, culminating in his recognition as the Spikers’ Turf Press Corps Player of the Week.

According to Philippines News Agency, Garcia showcased his skills by scoring 10 points and making eight excellent receptions in a match where King Crunchers triumphed over Martelli Meats with a scoreline of 25-9, 25-19, 25-16, at the Ynares Sports Arena. Furthermore, Garcia’s impressive performance against DN Steel-FEU, where he delivered 19 points and 16 excellent receptions, was instrumental in Criss Cross’s victory with set scores of 22-25, 25-20, 25-20, 25-21.

Garcia attributes part of his success to his familiarity with the players, noting, “Maybe, it helped because they are my players so I know what they’re doing. I know their moves, that’s a big factor.” Despite his role as assistant coach to FEU mentor Eddieson Orcull
o, Garcia emphasizes the individuality of the players, saying, “They are players, they have their own minds. They still hold the ball.”

For his outstanding performance, Garcia was awarded the Player of the Week title, presented by Pilipinas Live, for the week of November 13 to 17. He acknowledged his opponents, stating, “Kudos to FEU because they fought well, it was an intense match so we have to give our 100 percent in the game.”

In a competitive field, Garcia outperformed other notable players such as VNS’ Kenneth Daynata, Cignal’s Louie Ramirez, and PGJC Navy’s Joeven Dela Vega to earn the weekly honor. The recognition is provided by print and online media covering the league, which is accessible via the Pilipinas Live app and the league’s official website.

Currently, Criss Cross shares the second spot with Cignal, both holding a 5-1 win-loss record. Garcia stressed the importance of maintaining their level of play to vie for the title, expressing, “We are recovering coming to the semifinals because the
y are a top team then they are undefeated, we have to play better in our remaining games.”