MANILA, Philippines—San Sebastian-Excelroof kept its focus despite a controversial call late in the fifth set to pull off a 20-25, 25-22, 25-20, 19-25, 15-11 triumph over Far Eastern U Sunday night and arrange a highly anticipated championship duel with Adamson in the Shakey’s V-League Season 7 Second Conference.
Guest player Suzanne Roces finished with a flourish, scoring three of San Sebastian’s last four points as the Lady Stags, whose lone V-League crown came two seasons ago, also in the second conference, secured their sixth finals appearance.
Adamson coasted into the finals with a trouble-free 25-19, 25-17, 25-12 win over Lyceum earlier at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
A debatable call that trimmed San Sebastian’s lead to 11-9 in the fifth set provided the drama missing in the Adamson-Lyceum game.
Roces’ hit was initially called in by the linesman, but the call—challenged by FEU coach Nes Pamilar—was overruled by match officials after watching a replay on the television panel’s monitor.
SSC coach Roger Gorayeb took the officials to task for using the monitor as a basis for making the call.
“They cannot just use the replay to overrule the call. That’s the first time,” Gorayeb said. “Now, they’re setting a precedent.”
Tournament commissioner Tonyboy Liao said “the linesman got it wrong because the ball was really out but the referee should have consulted the assistant referee because he was close to the play and not relied on the replay.”
But later Roces left little doubt of the Lady Stags’ dominance with two strong hits off running sets and an off-speed spike that finally slammed the door on the Tamaraws.
The game was already won by the Stags, but Gorayeb was still incensed when approached by reporters later.
“Are we just going to challenge calls and rely on replays in the next games?” Gorayeb asked.
In sweeping the Lady Pirates, the Lady Falcons drew 15 points from Michelle Laborte and 13 from Angela Benting.
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