The Akari Chargers. Photo from PVL Media Bureau
MANILA (UPDATED)Ā ā Akari has captured a ticket to the 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference Finals.
The Chargers ousted PLDT in five grueling sets, 25-22, 18-25, 22-25, 26-24, 17-15, in the knockout semifinal round on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The match saw an intense, tension-filled action as it went down to the wire in Set 5, with the High Speed Hitters moving a point closer to the championship series, 14-13, but saw their hopes eventually withered after an unsuccessful net fault challenge.
The PLDT coaching staff tried to raise the issue that Ezra Madrigal touched the net, and she did, but it wasn't a net fault, according to the FIVB rulebook.
Section 11.3.2 states that "Players may touch the post, ropes, or any other object outside the antennae, including the net itself, provided that it does not interfere with the play."
Since the league has ruled that the Madrigal net touch was not part of the play, the official ruled that it was not a fault.
As the challenge was put forth mid-rally, Akari was awarded a point, tying the match at 14-all.
Fiola Ceballos has put PLDT again at match point, 15-14, but Grethcel Soltones answered back with consecutive clutch hits to move closer to the triumph. PLDT's Kath Arado dove for the ball to try and save the ball to no avail.
High Speed Hitters' import Elena Samoilenko suffered a costly attack error to concede the match to the still-unbeaten Chargers.
After the game, PVL Commissioner Sherwin Malonzo explained what happened during that dramatic sequence.
"There was no fault because na-establish na 'yung position, 'yung dalawang paa before she turned. And then at the same time, nag-mid rally challenge si PLDT," he said. "The consequence of doing a mid-rally challenge, kapag na-deny kayo or in this case, unsuccessful, puntos ng kalaban 'yon."
"Sa case nga kanina, babalik ako, wala na 'yung action of playing the ball do'n sa net when she twisted. The play was already with Oly going to the setter. Kumbaga, wala na siyang kinalaman," Malonzo went on.
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