Playing her first game in two months, Grethcel Soltones provided the stability and crucial hits that spelled the difference in Akari Chargers's five-set coonquest of the Farn Fresh Foxies.
One set away from being relegated to the play-in, the Akari Chargers are in deep search of a game-changer.
Enter Grethcel Soltones.
Playing her first game in two months, Soltones provided the spark just in time to lead a gritty five-set Akari Chargers squeaker against the Farm Fresh Foxies in their 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference qualifying duel.
[ALSO READ: Akari gets revenge over Farm Fresh, secures PVL All-Filipino quarterfinal slot]
The 29-year-old power hitter delivered 11 points to aid Ivy Lacsina’s team-high 22-point as the Chargers barged into their second quarterfinal appearance in franchise history.
It was Soltones’ first game back since Akari’s four-set triumph over the Chery Tiggo Crossovers last Dec. 10. She missed the team’s last six games in the preliminaries due to hand strain injury.
But healthy anew, the former San Sebastian Lady Stag proved to be the stabilizer Akari needed after falling 2-1 in the game.
“Hindi talaga ako nag-expect na ipapasok ako since nung first set, ang ganda talaga nung pinakita nila [Akari]. Pero sabi naman si coach Taka mag-ready lang ako. Kanina inoobserbahan ko sila tapos 'yung sa kalaban para pagpasok ko alam ko na 'yung gagawin ko,” Soltones revealed in the post-game press conference.
And she delivered big-time.
Soltones paced a strong fourth set start for the Chargers en route to forcing a fifth-set decider where the ‘Lady Beast’ scored Akari’s final four points to seal the gusty victory.
“Pagdating sa crucial point, nakikita ko sila na narararattle so nandoon po ako para iremind sila na kailangan maayos muna yung gagalawan natin para deliver natin ng maayos ‘yung point,” the veteran spiker added.
Up next for Akari is a best-of-three quarterfinal showdown with the Galeries Tower Highrisers, who stunned the Cignal HD Spikers in their own qualifying round duel.