The Premier Volleyball League has rejected the PLDT High Speed Hitters’ protest concerning their controversial Reinforced Conference semifinals defeat to the Akari Power Chargers on Saturday night.
In a statement late Sunday, the High Speed Hitters revealed that the PVL upheld its decision not to call a net touch violation on Akari’s Ezra Madrigal when PLDT was leading 14-13 in the fifth set.
“We sadly share the news that the Premier Volleyball League has decided to junk our protest regarding their referees’ decision to not call a net touch on a crucial juncture of our match versus Akari in the semifinals,” PLDT said in a statement.
“We are yet to know what this horrible experience is trying to teach us, but one thing PLDT is proud of as a team is how we are one in fighting for the integrity not just of our team but of the entirety of Philippine volleyball,” it added.
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PLDT were at match point at 14-13 when assistant coach Manolo Refugia issued a net touch challenge against Madrigal, whose left arm scraped the net as she landed from a block attempt.
After a long lull where no video challenge replay was shown on live TV and inside the arena, the technical committee deemed it an unsuccessful challenge, awarding a point to Akari to tie the score at 14-all.
The Power Chargers then reached match point at 15-14 on an off-the-block hit by Grethcel Soltones before they completed the come-from-behind win following an attack error by High Speed Hitters’ Elena Samoilenko.
PVL commissioner Sherwin Malonzo insisted that the referees made the right verdict, citing Section 11.3.2 of the FIVB rulebook, where players may touch the post, ropes, or any other object outside the antennae, including the net itself, provided that it does not interfere with the play.
The High Speed Hitters will instead face sister team Cignal HD Spikers in a battle for bronze on Monday afternoon.
The post PVL rejects PLDT’s protest over controversial semis defeat to Akari first appeared on Fastbreak.
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