The San Sebastian College-Recoletos Lady Stags started the 2016 Shakey’s V-League season strong as last season’s runners-up in the NCAA Women’s Volleyball tournament were able win three of its four group stage matches before eliminating the UST Golden Tigresses in the first game of the second round. During that run, it seemed that ace spiker Grethcel Soltones has finally found the back-up she lacked for the past five years.
However, the Lady Stags were sent crashing back down Saturday afternoon, suffering a straight set loss to the FEU Lady Tamaraws.
The Recto-based spikers led at the early goings of the first two sets but ultimately conceded both.
“Ganyan naman kami lagi, lalamang, tatabla sila. Hindi namin masundan,” Queen Stag Gretchel Soltones shared. She also noted that this problem has been nagging the team the past few years.
The reigning SVL Open Conference MVP was the high point women for the Lady Stags with 12 markers but no one else were able to notch double-figures in scoring.
On her part, Soltones has not been feeling well. “Mga four days na masama pakiramdam ko,” the 20 year old said.
With the team struggling against the Lady Tamaraws, the San Sebastian skipper tried to toughen it out when the team needed it the most but her ill body could only do so much.
“Hindi ko kayang sumigaw-sigaw.”
Soltones and the Lady Stags, however, still has that fire to continue fighting.
“Kelangan pa namin tuloy ang ginagawa namin kasi mahirap na laban dito sa quarters,” the San Sebastian senior said. “Magagaling na yung mga teams.”
As she and the Lady Stags head back to the drawing board, they are not offering any excuses for the setback they experienced.
“No excuses. Nagkulang talaga kami,” she lamented
