CHALLENGE unsuccessful.
The PVL has ruled against a protest filed by PLDT over its controversial five-set loss to Akari in the 2024 Reinforced Conference semifinals.
On the eve of the conference finale, the High Speed Hitters shared the league’s verdict on their social media pages.
READ PLDT pulls out of PVL Invitational
“We sadly share the news that the Premier Volleyball League has decided to junk our protest regarding their referees’ decision to not call a net touch on a crucial juncture of our match versus Akari in the semifinals,” the team said.
Despite being demoralized, PLDT said it will play the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference bronze medal game versus Cignal as scheduled.
High Speed Hitters head coach Rald Ricafort told SPIN.ph the team deemed it best to ‘show up’ and still compete in the battle for third against their sister team HD Spikers after the tough ordeal.
“Yes, ‘yun din ang in-advise ng management na mag-show up pa rin kami (sa battle for third),” he said.
He also bared how the players are demoralized after all that went down in the last 24 hours.
“Hindi na okay ‘yung players mentally eh. We’ll just show up tomorrow at tignan na lang namin kung saan kami dalhin.”
Shortly after Saturday’s semis game, PLDT expressed its intent to lodge a formal protest to the PVL following a no net touch call on Akari’s Ezra Madrigal when PLDT held match point in Set 5 at 14-13.
The PVL received the protest in writing on Sunday.
On the same day, PLDT had its prior request to withdraw from the Invitational Conference granted three days since informing the league about it.
It was made clear by both the team and the league that PLDT’s decision to forego the Invitationals wasn’t prompted by their semis fiasco and the protest that followed.
Hence, status quo stands for Monday's finale featuring Akari vs. Creamline in the championship game and a PLDT-Cignal battle for third.
Here's the PLDT statement in full:
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