'Parang ninakawan': PLDT still reeling from controversial PVL semis loss

MANILA, Philippines – The PLDT High Speed Hitters admitted that they were still carrying the heavy burden of their controversial loss to the Akari Chargers in their tightly contested semifinals match in the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference, even as they played the Battle for Bronze match on Wednesday evening.

The High Speed Hitters, who were the talk of the town during the weekend following heated discussions of a non-call late into the fifth set of their semifinals match on Saturday, looked lethargic against eventual bronze medal winners Cignal despite winning the opening set of the contest.

After the match, PLDT head coach Rald Ricafort said that they were simply too hurt and emotional to play to the best of their abilities.

“For this game, unang mindset is to show up. Kasi from the Saturday na nangyari, wala na rin kaming training nung Sunday kasi sa usap usap palang, talagang mahirap siyang tanggapin mentally. Ganoon ka-drained… Parang [kaming] ninakawan, ganun yung pakiramdam,” said Ricafort.

The High Speed Hitters were a point away from the finals when assistant coach Manolo Refugia raised a challenge for net touch on an alleged fault of Akari middle blocker Ezra Madrigal. The mid-rally challenge paused play for more than 10 minutes as the officials mulled over the decision.

After long deliberation, the point was awarded to Akari citing FIVB rules which deemed Madrigal’s touch a non-violation. Akari eventually won the match, 17-15, in the fifth set.

Debates swirled online on the decision with public sentiment siding with the High Speed Hitters. But after falling so painstakingly short of the championship round, PLDT just couldn’t regain their bearings in time to finish on a high note.

“Blessed kami kahit papano na nagkaron ng delay, pero, yun nga, mental state, mental health, di na 100%. So yung pag show up today, yun yung unang goal. Nagawa naman,” said Ricafort. 

“Nacontrol [namin] yung sa first set. Pero wala, siguro nasagad na kumbaga. So, binanggit ko naman sakanila goal-wise, I think nakuha naman namin. Pero yun nga, mahirap nang ilaro yung ngayon."

PLDT skipper Kath Arado even went as far as saying that the High Speed Hitters had initially planned on