THE dream run isn’t over, and Akari saved it in a way it knows best: five-setters.
The Chargers are one win away from their first-ever championship after ousting PLDT, 25-22, 18-25, 22-25, 26-24, 17-15, in their fourth five-setter in the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference knockout semifinals on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Controversy, however, marred the photo finish.
At 14-13 in Set 5, the High Speed Hitters, who were at match point, issued a mid-rally challenge on a block attempt by Ezra Madrigal on Mika Reyes’ attack.
The match then went to a standstill as PLDT pled its case on the video challenge which wasn't shown on the big board inside the venue, as well as the live broadcast.
In the end, Akari was awarded the point by virtue of the unsuccessful mid-rally challenge.
The two teams then tied each other again at 15-all before the Chargers scored back-to-back points to remain unbeaten in 10 matches and register their maiden finals trip.
Oly Okaro blazed Akari's historic finals trail with 39 points on 35 attacks and four blocks. Ivy Lacsina chimed in 19 points to lead the locals and back their reinforcement's game-high showpiece.
This marks the Chargers' first-ever triumph over the High Speed Hitters after five prior losses and only one set won since 2022.
READ: BINI Mikha energizes Akari's PVL playoff run
In only its second year as a club with just six conferences under its belt, Akari hit breakthrough after breakthrough with its best preliminaries run (8-0), first PVL playoffs run, and now, first finals appearance.
And with a triumph over either Cignal or Creamline in the winner-take-all title game, they can add their most important ‘first’ yet — their first PVL title.
Questions on the crucial call
Moments after the match, PVL commissioner Sherwin Malonzo and referee supervisor Jeffrey Lopez clarified the league’s stance and the rationale on the referees’ decision-making in the controversial sequence.
As per video replays which the league finally shared with media, upon landing from her block attempt, Madrigal pivoted to the right side and had her left arm draw contact with the net.
That, however, wasn't a violation per se, as it was a so-called 'second motion away from play,' with Malonzo citing Section 11.3 of the FIVB’s official rulebook:
In essence, since Okaro had already received the opponent’s attack and both feet of Madrigal had landed, a new on-court action had begun. This effectively ruled out the supposed net touch from the previous on-court action, as a new one already started.
In Malonzo's view, the belief that all mid-rally contact with the net entails a net touch is actually a 'common misconception.'
In-game replay, where?
As to why the replay itself wasn't shown on the big board inside the venue, as well as the live broadcast?
According to Malonzo, it was a conscious call from the league not to show the video to avoid immediate confusion on a complex scenario.
He clarified, however, that the replay of the challenge was presented to both teams before the on-court decision was made.
In his words, it took a proper post-game forum to disclose specifics on why the net touch call wasn’t made. At the same time, he had to have the pertinent FIVB regulations on hand to justify the decision.
“‘Yung pinakita kong video, we showed it to the teams and not in the live broadcast. ‘Di ko alam kung mare-relay nang mabilis sa lahat, sa mga anchors, kasi ang worry lang namin is ‘yung interpretation, it takes a while to explain," he said.
“Kung gagawin ng panel ‘yun, we’ll need to have a technical person to explain it.”
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