La Salle’s Shevana Laput in the Shakey’s Super League National Invitationals finals Game 1. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Shevana Laput insisted that she didn’t touch the ball during the crucial moments of the fifth set in La Salle’s Game 1 loss in the Shakey’s Super League National Invitationals finals on Wednesday at FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
Red Bascon put the Lady Falcons at match point, 15-14, with an attack that the first referee ruled as a block touch.
But the Lady Spikers didn’t agree with the call, complaining that neither blocker Ela Raagas nor Laput, who was in the back row, touched the ball.
The umpire stood defiant and slapped a yellow card on Maicah Larroza, who was arguing with the referees, to the dismay of the fans inside the venue.
Amid the boos, Bascon remained composed and nailed the game-winning kill to complete Adamson’s come-from-behind 22-25, 25-17, 17-25, 27-25, 16-14 victory over the UAAP champion to inch a win closer to claiming the National Invitationals championship.
Adamson’s Red Bascon during the Shakey’s Super League Finals against La Salle. MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Laput, who unleashed 30 points built on 22 attacks, four blocks, and four aces, accepted the call but she rued the lack of the video challenge system.
“It can’t be helped. He saw what he saw but I know that I didn’t touch that ball. It is what it is. The ref saw what he saw and what he thought he saw. It’s sad there’s no challenge,” Laput told reporters.
Adamson coach JP Yude respected the call of the referees.
“The action happened right in front of (the referee), so he saw what happened. The viewers may not have seen what exactly happened. If they had called that outside, I would’ve respected the referee because I didn’t see it happen in front of me,” he said in Filipino. “I’m grateful that it worked in our favor, that the referees saw the check ball that’s why we got the point.”
Yude stressed that the Lady Falcons have to double their effort and remain eager when they try to close out the series in Game 2 on Saturday.
Laput remained optimistic that the Lady Spikers will bounce back and have what it takes to force a decider on Sunday.