Iriga disbands, leaves PSL
January 5, 2018 | 5:10pm
Sta. Lucia’s Marjana Phillips (13) foils Iriga City’s Sam Miyagawa’s attack during their Superliga encounter at the Filoil Flying V Center. | Jun Mendoza
MANILA, Philippines — Iriga City appears to have made its final hurrah in the Philippine Superliga (PSL).
Head coach Parley Tupaz confirmed that the Lady Oragons are now disbanded following a forgettable finish in the Chooks to Go-Philippine Superliga (PSL) Grand Prix last month.
Tupaz said their contracts were no longer renewed and the management, headed by Iriga City Mayor Madelaine Alfelor-Gazmen, already told them to explore their options elsewhere.
In their lone stint in the PSL, the Lady Oragons had traces of a competitive team.
Their imports — Serbian Tamara Kmezic and Japanese Saama Miyagawa and Minami Yoshioka — were no pushovers and can stand their ground against other elite foreign players.
But fate had a cruel script.
After winning their opening match over Sta. Lucia Realty, star player Gretchel Soltones was slapped with a one-year suspension and a P50,000 fine for playing in an exhibition match outside the league.
Soltones’ absence greatly hurt the morale of the Lady Oragons, leaving them tumbling in their next six matches.
They salvaged some measure of pride when they prevailed over Victoria Sports-UST but completely bombed out of contention when they clashed against powerhouse F2 Logistics in the quarterfinals.
That match proved to be the Lady Oragons’ final stand.
“At this point, I think it’s safe to say that Iriga City is already out,” said Tupaz, who personally broke the news to PSL officials in a meeting Friday.
“We don’t know what will happen next. Upon the expiration of our contracts, the management told us that we would just be given a call. So we had to check our options elsewhere.”
Sources said ranking PSL officials were saddened by the development, but still keeps their doors open for the Lady Oragons.
With Iriga City out, the league membership was reduced to seven with Petron, Cocolife, F2 Logistics, Generika-Ayala, Cignal, Foton and Sta. Lucia Realty still in the thick of the fight.
“If ever they decide to return, the doors of the league will always be open. The PSL will still welcome them with open arms,” said the source, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Tupaz is set to sign a contract with another PSL club in the next few days.
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