Grethcel Soltones made her return to the PSL early this year.
However, it was not the return the former V-League MVP expected. Unfortunately, in the early parts of the PLDT Home Fibr Power Hitters’ PSL Grand Prix campaign, she sustained a shoulder injury.
And so in the All-Filipino Conference, the 23-year-old made sure to reintroduce herself.
“Sa totoo lang, kasi siyempre matagal nang nawawala yung pangalan ko sa industriya ng volleyball kasi may injury ako, ‘di ba? So nagpapahinga ako kasi ang hirap ng pinagdadaanan ko that time,” Soltones bared.
“Kasi as a player, gusto mong bumawi, ‘di ba? So hindi ka makabawi kasi may injury ka eh. So every game, I have to do my very best para naman maipakita ko sa company, lalong lalo na sa sarili ko na kaya ko pa. Kaya kong maibalik from the injury.”
In the first three games of the 2019 PSL All Filipino Conference, the “Lady Beast” showed her old form, returning to the scoring threat that she is.
Soltones has been averaging 18.33 points per game in PLDT’s first three matches. And Tuesday afternoon, she mightily towed the Home Fibr Power Hitters to a four-set triumph over the win-hungry Marinerang Pilipina. She even tallied a volleyball triple-double performance of 22 points, 12 excellent digs, and 10 excellent receptions.
To make things better for Soltones, the win hiked PLDT’s win-loss record to 2-1. Still, the 5-foot-8 spiker confided that she and her team are still far from satisfied – just like her idol Kobe Bryant’s ‘Mamba Mentality’.
“Ngayon, hindi pa rin kami kunteto,, lalo na ako sa nilalaro,” she opined.
“Kasi sobrang pagod, every other game yung game, di ba? So ayun, dapat kailangan ‘Mamba Mentality’ ka talaga dito kasi walang recovery, walang rest eh.
“Ayun, basta in every game lang, tinatatak ko sa sarili ko, sa utak ko na hindi – hindi pa rin ganun yung laro, hindi pa rin sapat every game – para yung psychological effect sa sarili ko na gagawin ko yung best ko every game,” she continued.
Admittedly, her injury has started to act up as of late due to the rigorous schedule. But that won’t be enough of a reason to stop her from playing volleyball as long as she continues to undergo therapy and conditioning.
“Meron naman,” confessed Soltones when asked if there is still a pain in her shoulder. “Kasi siyempre walang pahinga, ‘di ba? Meron pero siyempre, andoon na sa utak ko na normal na lang ‘to kasi hindi na siya tulad ng dati.
“So therapy pa rin, sariling sikap ng therapy and then strengthening.”
