Days before the ASEAN Grand Prix raised its curtains for the second leg in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, the Philippine Women’s National Volleyball Team suffered a tough blow, with Kalei Mau and Alohi Robins-Hardy ruled out of the picture.
Nationals head coach Shaq Delos Santos then sought last-minute additions to his team. One of the players he turned to was Grethcel Soltones.
“Tinawagan lang ako ni Coach Shaq since hindi makakalaro si Mau. Sinabi niya lang sa’kin na kung ‘Pwede ka ba? Okay ba kondisyon mo?’” the former V-League MVP recounted.
“Sabi ko kay Coach Shaq, ‘Ikaw coach? [Ano] sa tingin mo? Since ikaw yung coach, kung pasado ako sa’yo, why not? Pero kung hindi naman coach, meron pa pong maraming deserving.'”
Delos Santos ended up sticking with his decision of having Soltones as the replacement. In no time, the 5-foot-8 outside hitter proved herself worthy of the elusive spot in the roster.
In the face of Southeast Asian powerhouse Thailand on Saturday, Soltones made her ASEAN Grand Prix debut.
Soltones shrugged off the jitters and provided a nudge in production for the depleted lineup of the Philippines — which missed the services of Alyssa Valdez, Jia Morado, Maddie Madayag, and Jovelyn Gonzaga.
“Una, hindi naman maiiwasan na kakabahan talaga kahit sino naman. So inisip ko lang na may experience na ako, so noong binigyan ako ng pagkakataon ni Coach Shaq, sabi ko hindi ko papalagpasin ‘to,” she bared.
The 24-year-old, Cebu-native backstopped usual scoring leaders Mylene Paat and Ces Molina, while also manning the floor alongside defensive specialists Dawn Macandili and Kath Arado. She flaunted her all-around brilliance to the tune of five points, nine excellent receptions, and 10 excellent digs.
However, the gallant stand of Soltones and her sisters-in-arms went for naught, as the Filipinas were overwhelmed by the brilliance of Thailand.
“As I can say, hindi naman na sinasabi ko na sobrang under tayo, pero kasi iba talaga ‘pag Thailand na sobrang bilis ng mga sets, which is tayo, kulang rin sa mga ganun. Marami pa tayong dapat matutunan,” Soltones admitted.
Still, Soltones remains optimistic that she and her teammates will be able to regain their footing against Indonesia on Sunday. All they have to do, she stressed, is figure out how to remain calm and composed throughout a match.
“Yung composure namin as a team, medyo shaky pa eh. Yun yung kulang namin, pero once nakuha namin yun, I’m sure na lalaban pa tayo at mas better performance natin,” she asserted.
“As always naman, motivated na manalo man o matalo. Tomorrow, siguro adjustment lang namin as a team. Yung composure talaga, ayun talaga yun, pinaka-main namin kasi medyo nag-kaniya-kaniya na kami noong patapos ng game eh. Ayun, [yun] dapat ang i-improve namin as a team.”
