Despite a three-month layoff due to a minor knee injury, Grethcel Soltones proved why she remains one of the Premier Volleyball League’s most reliable veterans, guiding Akari past a gritty Farm Fresh squad in a do-or-die battle.
Soltones may have only played three sets, but her influence stretched far beyond the stat sheet, as the Chargers escaped with a 25-11, 23-25, 18-25, 25-21, 15-9 victory, booking a spot in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference quarterfinals.
The 29-year-old outside hitter didn’t just provide the steadying presence Akari needed—she took over when it mattered most. Scoring six of her 11 points in the deciding fifth set, she ensured that the young Chargers didn’t crumble under pressure.
Akari found itself in deep trouble after dropping the second and third sets, struggling to contain Farm Fresh’s aggressive play. That’s when Soltones’ leadership came into play.
"Ang mindset ko talaga ay pagdating sa crucial point... Kasi nakikita ko yung team namin na nara-rattle, nandoon ako para i-remind sila na kailangan maayos muna yung gagalawin namin para ma-deliver namin nang maayos yung points, yung sistema, at kung anong pwedeng gawin sa court," Soltones shared.
Her words became a rallying cry for the Chargers, who responded with a composed fourth-set win before dominating the fifth set behind their veteran leader’s heroics.
Akari head coach Taka Minowa, who called upon Soltones to stabilize the squad, lauded her impact.
"In the second and third sets, we had a lot of errors, so I decided to put Greta in because she can talk to the team and be vocal inside," Minowa explained. "Like Ivy said, we are a young team, but with Greta’s experience, she can fix the team."
With their ticket punched to the quarterfinals, Akari now prepares for a best-of-three series against Galeries Tower, the team that stunned Cignal in the play-in round.
Soltones, well aware of the Highrisers’ ability to pull off upsets, urged her team to maintain their focus from start to finish.
"Nakikita ko naman sila nung nasa labas ako na okay yung ginagalaw nila nung umpisa. Ang aayusin namin ay yung sa crucial times—kahit sinong ilagay sa loob, magli-lead, mas magiging maayos, at makakapag-adjust kami agad."
With their quarterfinal clash set for March 15, the Chargers will look to lean on Soltones’ experience once again as they aim to extend their breakthrough season.
