MANILA, Philippines — Marian Buitre finally breaks her silence after the “middle finger” issue in a loss to Creamline in the previous edition of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) 2024 All-Filipino Conference semifinals.
The former University of the Philippines (UP) standout mustered all her guts and told The Manila Times how the backlash affected her mental health as she sat out for seven months.
“I think this is the first time I am going to address this about the backlash in the first conference this year. I have to admit that I am affected by it and life goes on, we only learn from there and move forward from there,” Buitre said.
“Then I am about to get back, then I am injured (sprain). I am motivated to redeem myself. I want to work hard and persevere. I know everything happens for a reason and I might understand the reason why, all of these will make sense,” she added.
The 28-year-old blocker also revealed that she is ready to say goodbye to her career after that fiasco.
“When I had that break, I saw bigger things than volleyball. I am grateful that Petro Gazz that awaits for my return. I am ready to stop already (playing pro volleyball), and it was unexpected that Petro Gazz wants me to return,” she added.
There were articles stating that Buitre was suspended, leading to her not to play, but PVL commissioner Sherwin Malonzo and Buitre made it clear that there were no suspensions or sanctions that happened.
“Just to be clear, I was not suspended and I was also not given any sanction. All of it was not true, it’s my end of my contract already, and I did not renew, but Petro Gazz said I should come back and I am grateful,” Malonzo backed up Buitre’s claim.
“I took everything for granted, and I learned a lot, and I am grateful that I still have a family here,” she added.
How it all started
During the semifinals of the PVL 2024 All-Filipino Conference, Petro Gazz and Creamline had a heated discussion on Alyssa Valdez’s attack that was called as a block touch with the match tied at 24-all in the third set.
MJ Philips and Aiza Pontillas protested and said that there was no block touch, as Valdez’s attack sailed out.
However, with Petro Gazz already exhausting its challenges, it can no longer ask for a review.
This led Petro Gazz players to protest, as referee Bobby Celso initially ruled the point to Petro Gazz before reversing the call.
With the game on pause, as Pontillas and Philips were talking to referees, Buitre was caught on camera doing the middle finger.
The heavily favored squad Creamline’s fan base did not miss this, and they pointed it out on social media.
Petro Gazz lost the match 27-25, 23-25, 25-27, 24-26, in four sets, which allowed Creamline to keep its Finals bid.
