Grethcel Soltones is working her way back to her old, deadly form in Petro Gazz’s 2023 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference campaign.
Soltones, a former league MVP, fired 14 points built on 13 attacks to lead the Angels’ 28-26, 25-18, 25-13 sweep of Cignal at the Philsports Arena on Saturday night. That marked their second consecutive win of the tournament after dropping their opener against Creamline.
Petro Gazz head coach Oliver Almadro revealed that he challenged the 27-year-old outside spiker from Catmon, Cebu to return to her MVP form this conference.
“Sabi ko kay Greth, Greth balik natin yung prime Grethcel tapos sabi niya sige coach, trabahuhin natin ‘yan. Kapag sinabi niyang trabahuhin natin ‘yan, yun ang maganda e. Pinapangatawanan niya, sabi ko tiyagain niya lang yung depensa, tiyagain niya lang,” said Almadro.
“I specified kasi yung role nila so specific yung role then ayun, nagfi-free up so nagagawa niya yung role niya. Nagiging at ease sila sa trabaho nila so yun, I’m happy na bumabalik na yung prime Grethcel. We’re working on it. We hope na when the right time comes, mabalik niya yung peak niya talaga na MVP Grethcel,” he added.
For her part, Soltones said that she is very grateful for the trust and confidence that Almadro and the rest of the Angels put in her. She also admitted that she’s still far from her previous form but shared that she’s making great strides in her progress.
“Sobrang thankful ako kasi ganun pala yung tiwala niya sakin. E kalaban ko dati ‘to e. Yun nga, ang mapa-promise ko lang din na hindi ko siya bibiguin sa ibibigay niya saking role,” said Soltones.
“Hindi pa kasi sobrang dami ko pang bigas na kakainin bago ko ma-reach yung goal saka yun nga, nire-remind ko yung sarili ko na once na… kasi syempre maraming players na na mas malakas so ngayon, kung ano yung meron ngayon, dapat i-embrace ko kasi dati mas bata pa tayo e so mas marami tayong nagagawa. Ngayon utak utak na.” she continued.
Aside from her working her way back, Soltones also said that she’s eager to prove her doubters wrong. She wants to show that she deserves the role given to her by Almadro.
“Ang goal ko talaga is mapatunayan na deserve ako kung nasan ako nilagay ni coach ngayon and sa mga taong hindi naniniwala sa akin dati.”
