Just a class act from PLDT High Speed Hitter team captain Kath Arado, calling on fans regarding how they treat the Akari Chargers after their controversial semifinal match.
When all is said and done, PLDT High Speed Hitters captain Kath Arado has one simple appeal to the Philippine volleyball community about the Akari Chargers.
“Sana talaga sa fans, huwag na nilang palakihin pa na ganon na umabot pa sa mga player,” Arado pleaded in an interview with One Sports.
Arado and the PLDT High Speed concluded their 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference with a fourth-place finish, after losing four sets to sister team Cignal HD Spikers.
But how they ended up in the bronze medal match--losing in a heartbreaking five-setter against eventual runners-up Akari Chargers--was perhaps the most talked about game in the import-laden tournament.
The match saw a controversial net touch challenge by the High Speed Hitters against one of the Akari players.
However, the first referee denied the claim, ruling it a non-violation since it did not interfere with the play (FIVB Rule 11.3.2), allowing the Chargers to extend the highly-emotional match and win the game.
With this, Akari became a target of fans' ire--becoming villains in their eyes overnight.
It got to the point that the Chargers had to release a statement to denounce threats made against players and the coaching staff.
[ALSO READ: PVL: Akari issues strong statement after threats following controversial semis victory in Reinforced Conference]
It didn't end there.
Ezra Madrigal, the center of that net touch issue, got a lot of boos during the call out for the Reinforced Conference final.
But Arado eventually spoke out to defend the Chargers.
“Hindi madali yung ginagawa namin na sacrifice everyday na mag-training, na malayo sa pamilya. So sana tumigil na din yung sa Akari dahil hindi din naman nila deserve ‘yung ganoong treatment sa kanila.”
Arado noted that in crucial situations, teams are expected to take full advantage of every opportunity.
“Walang player na aamin lalo na kapag crucial. May fair play pero kaya rin may challenge. So hindi naman kasalanan ng players kasi pare-parehas kami nagpakahirap para manalo," the captain said. “So hindi rin kasalanan ng management ng Akari, ng coaches at management.”
Arado spoke out in defense of Akari, after admitting that PLDT struggled on whether or not to show up for the bronze medal match.
They eventually did, with the libero saying they did not want to waste the team's effort for the entire conference.
[ALSO READ: PVL: Kath Arado reveals PLDT almost a no-show in bronze medal match vs Cignal]
But now, PLDT will skip in the ongoing Invitationals and will now prepare for the All-Filipino Conference.
(With reports from Aivan Episcope, One Sports Digital)