The issue between Gerflor and its players is finally trending in the right direction after the management met with the players and released a portion of the athletes’ salaries during their practice last Saturday.
Defenders’ head coach Sammy Acaylar shared the welcome development shortly after his team’s 25-17, 25-17, 25-15 loss to Farm Fresh in the Premier Volleyball League Second All-Filipino Conference on Tuesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
However, the same cannot be said for the coaching staff as they have yet to receive their own salaries.
“Last Saturday, we had practice and there were management na dumating and inexplain nila sa amin and they promised us that they will give partial of the salary of the players, nothing [pa for] coaches ha, only the players,” said Acaylar.
Acaylar also revealed that the players will receive their full salary later this week.
“Nakiusap sila sa amin kasi depende sa sulat galing sa PVL, na ang mga bata, bigyan ng partial, then after this week, bibigay yung full salary ng mga bata,” said the decorated tactician.
“So sabi ko sa mga bata na pagbigyan sila, bigyan ng another chance so bahala sila gumawa ng paraan na makasahod ang mga players namin. So syempre, kontrolado ko naman ang players so umoo naman ang players natin,” he added.
Despite it all, the Perpetual head coach urged his players to soldier on and continue focusing on their remaining matches.
The Defenders still have four games remaining on their schedule against Akari, Choco Mucho, Galeries Tower, and Cignal.
“I always told my players na kalimutan lahat ng yan, and kasi syempre, as a coach, as a player sila, sakanila din naman ang bagsak pag pangit ang performance namin. Ako naman, alam ko naman kung hanggang saan yung kanilang skills so, basta ibigay nila ang best nila, wala silang maririnig na salita coming from me,” said Acaylar.
“At least, hindi yung katulad ng una bitbit talaga nila ang lahat ng problema. So ngayon, okay na sila, masaya ako sa performance kahit na talo kami basta’t naka-double digits ako, masaya na ko dun,” he continued.
Already out of playoff contention after suffering their seventh consecutive loss, Acaylar said that he still wants to see the best from all of his players.
They look to secure their first win in the league since joining in the previous conference.
“Still, I encourage my players na wag nilang intindihin kung panghuli kami, kung second kami, basta the most important is to play, to give their best during this competition. Kasi at the end of the day, sila naman yung magdadala,” said Acaylar.
“Pag nakitaan nila magandang laro, maraming kukuha sa kanilang mga teams na commercial. So it’s up to the management kung anong klase sa paghandle nila if in case na may players kami na kinukuha ng mga ibang PVL teams,” he added.
Acaylar said that the welcome development was a breath of fresh air for him and the team, who have been carrying the issue with them on the court in their past games.
He also thanked other PVL teams for providing support to the Defenders in this trying time.
“Yeah because sa akin ang punta ng mga players eh. Before kasi I told my players na i don’t like any problem na lumabas sa social media, lumabas sa ganito, cinocontrol ko sila. Kaya mga players ko naman, humble yan eh, nga lang at the end of the day, bandang huli na, na nasaktan na talaga sila, kasi syempre, ang layo ng Quezon City na practice namin,” he said.
“Ako nga eh, pamasahe ko dun, sasakyan ko, gasolina ko, dalawang libo back and forth so how much more yung mga players namin. Ako kasi concerned ako sa mga players kasi as a coach, and as a player before, naiintindihan ko sila,” Acaylar continued.
“Nabunutan? Not so much kasi di pa kami nabibigyan ng tamang should I say, yung concern ng mga players, mga coaches, pasalamat nga ako sa ibang commercial teams binibigyan kami ng tubig, binibigyan kami ng gatorade, thank you sa mga PVL commercial teams, concerned sila samin. Di sila galit samin kundi concerned sila sa mga nangyayari kasi syempre, player din sila, naiintindihan nila kami.”
