Petro Gazz head coach Oliver Almadro called the crucial challenge late in the fourth set that allowed the Angels to close the gap with Creamline in Game One of the 2023 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference finals.
The reigning Reinforced Conference champions raced to a 24-21 advantage in the fourth set – one point away from securing their first-ever victory against the Cool Smashers after almost four years. However, the Cool Smashers did not go down without a fight.
Tots Carlos fired a searing cross-court attack that sparked a 3-0 blast, capped off by back-to-back Jema Galanza hits, to tie the game at 24-all before MJ Phillips went for a quick attack to push the Angels to match point once again.
Grethcel Soltones then attempted an attack hoping to end the match, but was blocked by Jia De Guzman and Celine Domingo. Almadro immediately called for a net touch challenge mid-rally, which proved successful as De Guzman was flagged with a net violation that ended the 2-hour and 23-minute match.
“I called it, yes.
“I called it right away, the challenge [kasi] wala namang mawawala e and I trusted the Lord na lang na talagang net and it is indeed net. So yun yung vision e, yun yung I know my players worked hard for that attack and hindi ako papayag na hindi yun puntos kasi pinaghirapan niya yun,” said Almadro after the win.
Almadro knows that the same situation might happen again in the future, which is why he also said that it would be better next time if they do not rely on the challenge system to get the win.
“Ibig sabihin, alam ko na no matter what, it’s a point kasi hinihingi niya yung point na yun, she asked for it, so I know that it will be a point. That’s why I became confident to take that challenge, and indeed, we were granted the point,” said Almadro.
“Babasahin din namin yun, at the end, alam naman na baka mangyari ulit yun at dapat hindi kami mag-rely sa challenge. It’s a break, and the Lord gave that point to us,” he added.
After the Game One win, Almadro acknowledged that the Cool Smashers are still the ‘Goliath’ of the league. He hopes that Petro Gazz can be the ‘David’ that takes down the giant that is Creamline.
“Ang importante, we have to be prepared kasi they are a strong team. They are the Goliath of this tournament and kami naman, we just ask the Lord na ‘can we be the David?’ of this tournament so yun lang naman ang hinahanap namin,” said Almadro.
