No quitting for embattled Defenders

It's business as usual for Gerflor despite the issues surrounding its alleged delayed payment of salaries to its players.

The Defenders showed up yesterday to play powerhouse team F2 Logistics, losing in straight sets, 10-25, 16-25, 14-25, in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference Thursday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

Gerflor remained winless in six outings.

"At the moment, we just want to focus on our work. We'll just make our move if worse comes to worst. As much as possible we just want our problems to be resolved. If there will be no development, I told my players, that's the time we'll make the necessary actions," Defenders head coach Sammy Acaylar said.

An anonymous player who is a "part of a professional volleyball league" posted on social media platform Reddit last 3 November the problems experienced by an unnamed club ranging from alleged delayed payment of salaries, the mistreatment of its players and spreading malicious rumors about the team.

The post had gone viral, drawing attention from fans and even volleyball personalities.

A follow-up post last Wednesday further exposed issues in the club's training facility and even named the club's team managers leading to the identification of the team involved.

The league on Thursday stated that the matter is currently under investigation.

"Rest assured, we are committed to conducting a thorough and fair inquiry into the matter, ensuring that both the team's representatives and the players involved will have an opportunity to be heard," the PVL said in a statement.

Acaylar admitted that his players' morale is understandably down but as professionals the show must go on.

"I told my players, as players they have to do their job. We don't want to dwell on the problems of the team, it's up to the management what they want to happen to the team," he said.

"Our job is to play for the company that we represent."

"There is a problem and everybody knows that it went viral. Maybe, it's up to the management to answer that but as I've said earlier, we don't want to preempt the management's decisions," Acaylar added.

"I told them that I will support you as long as we take care of our players. I've been a coach for how many years now and I don't want my players to be treated unfairly."

The Defenders joined the league in the mid-season Invitational Conference, losing all their five games.

Geflor revamped its roster and even parted ways with head coach Edgar Barroga following its maiden tournament.