STA. ROSA, LAGUNA – Petro Gazz handed PLDT its fourth consecutive loss following a controversial finish, 19-25, 25-21, 25-20, 27-25 in the 2022 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference, Saturday at the Sta. Rosa Sports Complex here.
The Angels survived two set points in the fourth and kept their composure after a long delay caused by a dispute over a play. PLDT coach George Pascua issued a challenge but saw it ruled unsuccessful.
The 2019 champions gained a crucial point from the unsuccessful challenge to force a tie at 24. Then import Lindsey Vander Weide banged in a kill at resumption and the Angels snatched the win.
MJ Phillips redeemed herself from an errant push in the previous play with a block off PLDT reinforcement Elena Samoilenko. The latter blew it all for the High Speed Hitters with a backrow attack mishit.
PLDT, however, didn’t sign the scoresheet, automatically placing the outcome under protest. However, the league said PLDT must put its protest in writing one hour after the match to make it official.
The victory thus hiked Petro Gazz’s record to 3-1 while dealing PLDT its fourth loss against a win. This dampens the High Speed Hitters’ semis chances in the season-ending conference of the league organized by Sports Vision.
“Alam naman nila kung gaano ka-importante ung laro sa amin. Saka ni-remind naming lagi sila na mag-focus sa kung anong nangyayari. Kailangan nakatutok talaga kami sa instructions at makuha naming ung panalo. Gusto talaga nila,” said Petro Gazz coach Rald Ricafort.
It was indeed a sorry setback for PLDT, which looked all set to force a decider after breaking away late in a tightly-fought fourth set. They even had match point at 24-22.
But after the Angels pulled within one, Pascua made a challenge while the ball was in play. He claimed a net violation committed by a Petro Gazz player.
It took the game officials some time before they could halt the action. But when they did, the officials ruled the challenge unsuccessful with no net touch committed.
Pascua insisted it was different play based on a TV account, but officials upheld their decision after the video system operator found no net violation committed upon further review. That consequently awarded the point to Petro Gazz, leading to another dispute, which also went to the Angels’ favor.
League rules state that an unsuccessful challenge by a side during a mid-rally would cost a point against the said team, and vice versa.
“Yung pinakita sa TV, hindi ko tiningnan kasi whatever it is, hindi naman mananalo yun,” said league commissioner Tony Boy Liao.
“We cannot decide on whatever would be the decision based on television kasi if we can do that, ‘wag na tayong mag-video challenge. Dun na lang tayo sa replay, ‘di ba?”
Vander Weide then cashed in on the High Speed Hitters’ misfortune and rammed in a kill. And though Phillips failed to wrap it up with a wayward push, she recovered with a key block off Samoilenko.
The gangling Russian hitter launched a blast from the backrow that sailed long, giving the Angels the point and the match.
Vander Weide finished with 24 points spiked by 21 attacks, two blocks, and an ace. She also tallied eight excellent digs and six receptions.
Phillips backed her up with 13 points, while Myla Pablo and Jonah Sabete added 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Samoilenko put up a game-high 29 points but came out cold from a long break.
