A Classic Christmas Tale
Just a month before Christmas, a good Samaritan has decided to pay the salaries of both the players and the staff of Gerflor.
The sportsman, who refused to be named, and the Premier Volleyball League worked hand in hand to make it possible.
The Defenders were present during the Farm Fresh Foxies’ game against the Petro Gazz Angels on Tuesday at the Philsports Arena.
“Actually, after nung Cagayan na game, medyo mayroon ng linaw kung paano gagawin namin sa Gerflor team,” said Acaylar on Tuesday before the Petro Gazz-Farm Fresh match.
“Somebody, may isang mabait na tao, isang mabait na avid fan ng volleyball na nag-shoulder ng aming salary. That’s good. That is why ang mga bata ko medyo sumaya, ginanahan during game,” he continued.
“That is why masaya at malaking impact pala sa kanila yun, malaking impact sa players ko na na-relieve yung kanilang problems ba. Kasi mineet kami ni Sir Ricky Palou, from the start kung ano yung hindi nabayaran, babayaran.”
Last Saturday, during the PVL On Tour in Cagayan de Oro, Gerflor absorbed their eighth loss in the Second All-Filipino Conference.
Still, they put up a respectable performance, bowing to Akari 18-25, 15-25, 19-25.
“I know meron ng gustong mag adopt sa amin but I don’t know who is he, siguro hindi pa pwedeng sabihin kasi hindi pa naman siya totally napagusapan,” said Acaylar.
“Basta’t meron lang sinabi sa amin na ‘Oh, May mag-adopt sa team niyo.’ So depende pa rin doon sa performance ng mga bata namin that is why I told my players na they are happy because now we are here in Philsports kasi pinapunta kami ni Sir Ricky Palou and Sir Tony Liao to give that amount for the players and coaches.”
Regarding the culprits who left them unpaid for months, Acaylar is leaving it to the league to give them the just sanction.
This started when an anonymous Reddit post circulated, stating that players of a certain team in the PVL have yet to receive their salaries. A separate post named the managers of Gerflor.
But for Acaylar and his team, they are just grateful that there was a kind-hearted individual who willingly took the responsibility of giving the athletes – most of whom have day jobs – their deserved compensation.
“It’s up to the PVL. Wala kaming ano doon kasi kami naman naglalaro lang, nagku-coach. It’s up to the PVL kung anong gagawin nila, I don’t have any idea about their decision,” he said.
“There is no exact word, sa totoo lang. Hindi ko masabi kung anong sasabihin ko basta masaya kaming lahat players and the coaches masaya kasi I know mostly players na nagkautang-utang na sila because of their transportation because ang layo ng practice namin and nakatulong sa morale nila.”
Definitely, it will be a Merry Christmas for Acaylar and his girls.
