Akari claims PVL final spot amid controversy, Creamline digs deep in 5-set ousting of Cignal 

MANILA, Philippines – Undefeated Akari further extended its historic PVL Reinforced Conference run, albeit in controversial circumstances, as its edged PLDT in a highly contested five-set semifinal, 25-22, 18-25, 22-25, 26-24, 17-15, at the Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday, August 31.

With the High Speed Hitters already at match point, 14-13, players and coaches caught a net touch on Chargers middle blocker Ezra Madrigal mid-rally, prompting a violation challenge.

However, after a huge delay, the league opted to not show the replay and call an unsuccessful challenge on PLDT that awarded a point to Akari, causing a team-wide furor at the High Speed Hitters’ side.

Shell-shocked, PLDT followed up a tying Grethcel Soltones attack, 15-all, with back-to-back errors: a Kim Fajardo failed chance-ball save and a Lena Samoilenko attack error to send the Akari side to a joyous frenzy amid a mixed fan reaction.

Sought for clarification on the heated turn of events, PVL commissioner Sherwin Malonzo dug into the FIVB rule book and explained that Madrigal’s net touch was an out-of-play, second motion touch that was ruled legal due to import Oly Okaro already having dug the ball before Madrigal even landed her feet.

Essentially, the Okaro dig was already the live play and Madrigal’s net touch, though it clearly happened, is not a violation according to the rules, which in turn meant that PLDT’s mid-rally challenge was unsuccessful and a bonus point for Akari instead, 14-all.

Okaro tied her PVL career-high with 39 points, backstopped by 19 from possible MVP candidate Ivy Lacsina and 16 from Soltones.

Samoilenko paced the crushing loss with 30 points, while Erika Santos and Fiola Ceballos scored 15 and 14 respectively.

Star-less Creamline defies odds to reach finale

The Creamline Cool Smashers also dug deep from two sets down to dispatch the Cignal HD Spikers in a stunning five-set reversal, 20-25, 26-28, 25-18, 27-25, 15-13, to return to the Reinforced Conference final for the first time in five years.

Import Erica Staunton had her best game yet in a Creamline uniform, erupting for 38 points on 36 attacks, 1 block, and 1 ace. Bernadeth Pons further solidified her case for an MVP award with a PVL career-high 28 points, plus 24 excellent receptions and 17 excellent digs to complete a massive scoreline.

Feeding off energy from a 25-18 third-set rout, Creamline turned a 21-24 fourth-frame deficit to a 27-25 win, ending with a Kyle Negrito block on MJ Perez and a Staunton crosscourt hit.

Come the twilight of the fifth, the Cool Smashers fully took advantage of a demoralized HD Spikers side, turning an 8-8 tie to a 13-10 lead off another Staunton cross that their foes couldn’t recover from.

Cignal got as near as 13-14 off a Jackie Acuna quick attack, but Pons ended the match with a her own cross that the HD Spikers were unable to return.

Perez paced the sorry loss with 32 points, followed by 15 from former MVP Ces Molina and 12 from Acuna. – Rappler.com