PLDT and Akari laid the ghosts of their dim past behind as they shook hands and exchanged pleasantries immediately after their grudge match in the PVL All Filipino Conference.
Last year’s Reinforced Conference semifinals proved to be a distant memory when the High Speed Hitters pulled off a masterful 25-22, 25-16, 25-15 payback sweep past the Chargers.
READ: PLDT sweeps Akari in first game since controversial semis match
Head coach Rald Ricafort and Majoy Baron, who both went through the pain of their controversial semis defeat, shared the same tone in describing how it felt to face Akari again three months later.
Neither of them dwelled on resentment or seeking revenge. It was just another match with only a win in mind.
“Kung ano lang ‘yung nangyayari as of the moment, du’n lang kami magfofocus. Wala dapat baggage na hindi makakatulong sa nangyayari sa present,” said Baron.
“Gusto namin talaga na focused lang kami and magagawa namin ‘yung job namin sa loob ng court.”
Ricafort saw the grudge match in another light — one centered on gauging how far they’ve come performance-wise as a team since their top four finish in the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference.
“Naging basis namin siya sa kung anuman ang naging level namin last conference. Mas tiningnan namin siya as kailangan naming i-level up pa kasi hanggang du’n lang kami umabot last conference,” the PLDT mentor said.
“Hindi naman siya negative all throughout pero mas tiningnan siya as natutulungan kaming mas gumaling lalo dahil sa level nan ire-require sa amin.”
Amid the turmoil of the match’s three-month-long aftermath, Ricafort acknowledged how Akari helped them grow from the pain of it all.
“‘Yun din ang dinadala ni Akari rin all throughout. Nag-iimprove (kami) every conference at nakakadamay din kasi ‘yung ganun na dahil umaangat ang level ng mga teams, kailangan sumabay ka rin lagi.”
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