PSL upholds Petron's Game 1 win vs Cocolife

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Superliga decided to uphold the outcome of Game One of the Chooks to Go-Philippine Superliga Grand Prix best-of-three semifinals series between Petron and Cocolife last Tuesday at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

In a statement, the league said it formally approved the recommendation of its technical committee to uphold the 25-18, 23-25, 25-16, 25-23 victory of Petron.

The most prestigious women’s club volleyball league in the country further added that it meted an indefinite suspension on Salvador Cambay and Lumer Pajarillo, the two referees who officiated the match for their failure to call the rotation infraction committed by Petron setter Rhea Dimaculangan in the most crucial stretch of the match.

“The technical committee invokes the agreement among PSL teams that the referees’ decision is final. The PSL, therefore, turns down the protest,” said the league in a three-paragraph statement.

“To obviate similar situations, the PSL meted an indefinite suspension to the two referees officiating the match due to their failure to call the violation.”

Petron, which is gunning for its first Grand Prix title since winning it in 2014 with American Alaina Bergsma and Brazilian Erica Adachi as imports, was on its way to victory after erecting a 2-1 lead in Game One.

It, however, found itself in trouble as the Asset Managers inched closer, cutting down the lead to just one, 23-24, with Serbian Marta Drpa making the serve in a bid to stretch the match and send it to a deciding fifth set.

Drpa’s serve was quickly received by Japanese libero Yuri Fukuda, who dug it to setter Rhea Dimaculangan at the frontline.

But instead of setting, Dimaculangan dunked the ball over Sara Klisura, prompting the first referee to award Petron the final count, 25-23.

The Asset Managers complained that Dimaculangan was not in the position to attack since she’s supposed to be at the backline based on the rotation.

The league reviewed the protest and came up with a decision following a lengthy discussion Wednesday afternoon.

It also vowed to further improve its officiating as the tournament enters the most crucial stretch.

“In addition, the PSL will continue to upgrade its corps of referees by ongoing internationally-accredited refresher courses in conjunction with the Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc. (LVPI).”

Game Two is set on Thursday also at the same venue.