Grethcel Soltones has been a steady presence throughout her years in the volleyball circuit, but the Lady Beast is always ready to learn more.
The Akari Chargers always had a mentor in their four conferences so far in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL).
First there was Mama Pris, their Dominican import Prisilla Rivera. Then came Mama Dindin Santiago-Manabat.
Now there’s a new guide for the Chargers, 2022 PVL Open Conference Best Outside Spiker Grethcel Soltones.
The Lady Beast was a steady presence both in offense and defense during her four years with the Petro Gazz Angels.
But even though she was acquired by Akari for a leadership role, Soltones is eager to learn from her younger teammates.
“Ako kasi, naka-mindset na gusto kong mag-improve and mag grow. Sana maintindihan nila na gusto kong mag-grow as a player and also as a person,” Soltones shared in a video posted by the Akari Chargers.
“'Yung mantra ko kasi hindi porke't mas bata 'yung kasama ko eh, hindi ako matututo. Parang ang mindset ko kasi always is kahit bata yan, may matututunan ka dyan.”
The 28-year-old outside hitter helped the Angels in their 2022 PVL Reinforced Conference title run. And in the recent Second All-Filipino Conference, Soltones was a steady hand for young libero Babylove Barbon.
Soltones finished the preliminaries as the seventh best scorer of the league with 152 total points, became eighth in reception with 31.25% efficiency, and was the top spiker in the digging department with an average of 2.52 per set.
With Santiago-Manabat and young guns Faith Nisperos and Fifi Sharma, plus a Finals MVP in middle blocker Ced Domingo, imagine what the Lady Beast can do for the Chargers.
“Excited ako syempre. May hindi sila alam na may alam ako. Gusto ko mai-share sa kanila lalo na sa experience ‘pag dikdikan na. And also excited din ako maka teammate si Mommy Din and also si Mommy Bang (Pineda),” she shared.
“All I want to do for the team is to help talaga. Hindi ko rin iniisip na isa ako sa mga missing piece, basta gusto ko lang matulungan mga bata and also matututo ako sa coaches.”
Maybe we should christen her Mommy Gretch now too?
(KA)