Shaq Delos Santos and Petron Tri-Activ Blaze Spikers. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Petron head coach Shaq Delos Santos on Thursday said the crucial challenge call became the turning point in their Game One loss to Foton in the championship round of the Philippine Super Liga Grand Prix.
The Blaze Spikers were holding off the Tornadoes in the fifth set, 8-6, when Frances Molina’s kill was deemed long.
Delos Santos requested a challenge, believing Foton middle blocker Dindin Santiago-Manabat possibly touched the ball after Molina’s attempt but Petron’s challenged was ruled off and the point was given to Foton.
“Exactly [that was the turning point], the score that time was 8-6 and if that challenge went into our favor we could’ve been up 9-6 and that would make a huge difference from 8-7,” said Delos Santos after Petron lost to Foton in five sets, 20-25, 21-25, 25-22-22, 25-17, 15-9 at San Juan Arena.
“We can’t say exactly but it became the start of our collapse, we lost our focus so we filed a complaint to the higher ups.”
Petron’s 8-7 lead in the final period quickly dissipated as Lindsay Stalzer caught fire to help Foton finish of the Blaze Spikers.
Delos Santos asserted that what he saw in the challenge was a check ball.
“What I saw was a check ball because we proved it and that is why we submitted a letter of complaint,” said Delos Santos.