Screengrab of video showing Danijela Dzakovic hitting her teammate Jewelle Bermillo
MANILA, Philippines–Danijela Dzakovic, the fiery import of winless BaliPure, got a reprimand from the Premier Volleyball League which stated that her hitting teammate Jewelle Bermillo has no place in the league.
Ricky Palou, president of Sports Vision which runs the PVL, said that the incident was “as offensive not only to Bermillo but also to the sensibilities of all stakeholders of the sport and its ever-growing fans.”
Dzakovic has reportedly left the country early Sunday and back to Montenegro after she failed to help BaliPure win a single game in 10 outings in the Reinforced Conference.
READ: BaliPure import goes viral for hit to the head of libero teammate
Palou added that a repetition of such act “will be dealt with more severely,” which means the 5-foot-9 import is still eligible to play in the league.
Bermillo has accepted her apology and BaliPure coach Rommel Abella dismissed the incident as borne out of frustration.
Bermillo, Balipure’s libero, turned back to hit the ball despite Dzakovic saying “mine” as it fell in front of her during the first set of their match against Creamline.
Fed up, Dzakovic almost immediately slammed a left to Bermillo’s face, causing her contact lens to get lost and cry in embarrassment.
Dzakovic, realizing the magnitude of her act, quickly hugged Bermillo and apologized.
But just as quickly, the clip showing her landing blow went viral and elicited disapproving comments from fans as well as other Filipino players like Mela Tunay, Jheck Dionela and import Kseniya Kocygit.