ANTIPOLO — The PVL will field its first-ever foreign referee to begin the 2024-25 All-Filipino Conference semifinals, as promised before the start of the season.
READ: PVL implements changes in officiating for upcoming season
Adams Wong (Pak Ki Wong) from Hong Kong was tapped by the league to officiate the first match of the single-round robin semifinals between Akari and Choco Mucho.
Wong is classified as an international referee (IR) by the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC).
Joining him as a second referee is Filipina official Joy de Imus who, like Wong, also has an IR accreditation from the AVC.
The other foreign referee to help Wong in the home stretch of the conference is Thai official and former volleyball player Butsarin Hmog Mung Muang, who will serve as first referee to Creamline and Petro Gazz’ semis opener.
As first bared by concurrent AVC and Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) president Ramon ‘Tats’ Suzara, such a move was part of the league’s pre-season plans to elevate the level of officiating in the country’s lone professional volleyball league and uphold higher refereeing standards for Filipino officials.
PVL's commitment to impartiality
PVL commissioner Sherwin Malonzo made it clear that the move to bring in ‘neutral’ foreign referees is a clear reiteration of the league’s commitment to impartiality and professionalism.
“(The international referees) will be helping us with officiating. The good thing about this is wala silang kilalang team. Wala silang kilalang coach,” Malonzo said.
“Maganda yung neutral referees. Hopefully, the teams would see that wala tayong pinapanigan na team. Yun ang main purpose natin why we got international referees.”
Malonzo also underscored how the PVL seeks to further convey the message that it has never, nor will it ever consider, skewing matches through referees for any team’s favor.
“Initiative ‘to ng league to show na for one, gusto nating maging world-class. We’re hoping na we go to that level. At the same time, these neutral referees, wala silang kilalang team,” Malonzo said.
“In terms of may pinapanigan ba or wala, wala naman tayong pinapanigan. I hope they don’t get that notion. That’s why we brought them in to reinforce na wala tayong pinapanigan.”
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