Romwel Anzures

National University’s Arah Panique against De La Salle University in UAAP Season 88. UAAP Media.

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ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1776607329570UAAP 88 WVB DLSU vs. NU- Arah Panique-8628.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>National University’s Arah Panique against De La Salle University in UAAP Season 88. UAAP Media.MANILA — De La Salle University’s five-set thriller against National University ended in anti-climactic fashion, as a crucial challenge call sealed the Lady Spikers’ Season 88 eliminations sweep.</div>With La Salle leading 14-13 in the deciding set, the Lady Spikers were initially called for a four-touch violation — a point that would have allowed National U to extend the match.Head coach Ramil de Jesus challenged the call, arguing that there was a block touch on the Lady Bulldogs.However, upon review, a net touch infraction prior to La Salle’s fourth ball contact was spotted, prompting the first referee to use the Referee’s Challenge to further investigate the sequence.UAAP volleyball commissioner Mike Verano later gave clarification, saying there were no incorrect calls by the referees.According to Verano, La Salle did commit a four-touch violation, meaning the initial challenge on a block touch would not have prospered.But even before the fourth contact, NU’s Arah Panique had already committed a net violation, thus triggering the Referee’s Challenge, and eventually calling the violation on the Lady Bulldogs.“Upon review, there was no block touch. However, there was a net touch. It was another infraction,” said Verano. “That’s what came out. The final decision was net touch.”“The officials are given the resources. If they have doubts about their calls, they can initiate a Referee’s Challenge,” he added, before clarifying Panique’s violation.FIVB Rule 11.3.3 notes that “when the ball is driven into the net, causing it to touch an opponent, no fault is committed.”However, he explained that Panique’s net touch occurred while the ball was still in play and before La Salle’s fourth contact, which is why the violation stood.“When her arm hit the net, the ball was still in play,” he said. “La Salle hadn’t touched it yet for the fourth time, so it was a good call. That’s the explanation for the chaos kanina.”Verano also added that even if a challenge is made for a specific play, a different violation can still be reviewed, provided that it happened before the call being contested.“For referees, during a challenge, it will always be the first infraction they spot. Tinawag ni coach Ramil yung block touch, pero nakita na ng referee yung net touch. It’s still within the three touches, so it’s still a good call,” he added.To put the issue to rest, Verano said both coaches — La Salle’s de Jesus and NU’s Regine Diego — eventually agreed with the ruling after reviewing the play.“If they hadn’t accepted it, we would still be discussing it with the coaches,” he said.

“When her arm hit the net, the ball was still in play,” he said. “La Salle hadn’t touched it yet for the fourth time, so it was a good call. That’s the explanation for the chaos kanina.”

“When her arm hit the net, the ball was still in play,” he said. “La Salle hadn’t touched it yet for the fourth time, so it was a good call. That’s the explanation for the chaos kanina.”

UAAP: Commissioner sees no controversy in late call that sealed La Salle's win vs. NU -- 'It was a good call'

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UAAP: Commissioner sees no controversy in late call that sealed La Salle's win vs. NU -- 'It was a good call'

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 19, 2026 10:36 PM PHT

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