Officiating is arguably the most contentious subject in any sport.
In the Laoag Power Smashers’ three-set demise to the Bali Pure Purest Water Defenders, controversial calls ultimately swung the match.
The Power Smashers crept back into a tightly-contested second set to come within one, 23-24. The following point, Jovielyn Prado smashed a ball that careened dangerously close to the left antenna. First referee Bob Malenab initially called the hit good and the point to Laoag but, after conversing with the linesmen, he gave the point and the set to Bali Pure.
A visibly furious Laoag head coach Nes Pamilar resorted to an on-court protest as he benched his entire starting six in the third and final set, as a result, surrendering the match to Bali Pure.
“Yung procedure nang pagtawag, di ba? So, pumito, walang assist, line judge, ang unang mag-a-assist ay yung andun sa right side niya. So hindi nag-assist ,so hindi niya nakita. Wala namang nagko-complain, bakit mo kailangan baguhin yung tawag mo?,” a visibly frustrated Pamilar said as he left the arena.
“Hindi tama. Natapos kami ng ganun, pang-24 yun. Andami kanina na wrong position yung kalaban, kahit tanungin mo yung kalaban, sila nga nagtutulakan dahil wrong position sila, hindi inaano ng second referee yun,” Pamilar rued. “Sumisigaw na kami hindi naman ini-intindi. Anong gagawin namin? Para kaming niloloko!”
“Nage-ensayo kami, pinaghirapan namin yan, sana kung anlayo-layo ng pagitan, ng labanan ‘di ba? Dikitan na nga sabay gaganun lang kami?,” he furthered.
Pamilar would have preferred a dead ball call and to just replay the point since there was no challenge system in the league that would allow teams to properly question calls.
“Ano pang mangyayari? Kahit ano gawin mo para ayaw kang papanalunin. Buti pa tumawag na lang ng dead ball, di natapos ng ganun. Kahit naman sila, alam naman nila, nasaan ang procedure? Mali ang procedure. Walang assist, nag-decide siya tapos bigla nyang babaguhin?,” Pamilar continued.
Pamilar acknowledged that he was trying to send a message in the third set when he benched his main players.
“Sabi ko laro na lang natin yan, kita niyo, first 2 sets ganyan, posible pa kayong manalo,” he added. “Kaya lang kung ganoon ang laro paano kayo mananalo kung ganun ang sistema?”
Pamilar, however, went to say that the his team will move on from the match but he insists that it will be tough to win when the proper officiating system isn’t followed.
“Sa susunod maglalaro kami ng maayos. Kita niyo naman na ang sitwasyon ngayon. Yun ang naglalao,” the veteran mentor closed.
“Kaso lang kasi parang nakakainis. Parang mahirap tanggalin yung ganun na pangyayari sa amin.”
