GRETHCEL Soltones was sidelined by Akari for nearly three months with a minor left knee injury and came back with an 11-piece to send her team to the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference quarterfinals over Farm Fresh in five sets.
READ: Akari recovers just in time to outlast Farm Fresh in five sets
Apart from working her way back to the taraflex, Soltones was also an interested spectator who made sure to list down pointers on how the Chargers can turn a rough prelims finish around come the playoffs.
Her most concerning takeaway? Akari’s lack of composure in pressure-packed breaks of games.
“Yung crucial times kasi, nakikita ko naman sila nung nasa labas ako na okay yung ginagawa nila nung umpisa,” said Soltones.
“Yun yung aayusin namin ‘pag crucial times na kahit sino dapat ilagay sa loob, magle-lead or mas maging maayos at makakapag-adjust kami agad kasi nag-aadjust din yung kalaban.”
As one of the most experienced players in the Chargers’ roster, it is imperative for Soltones to lead by example, may it be during injury-related absences or when the going gets tough on the taraflex.
“Sa isip ko talaga, pagdating sa crucial point na nakikita ko sila na nara-rattle, nandun pa rin dapat ako para i-remind sila na ‘o isa lang," she said.
Soltones added: “Kailangan maayos muna yung gagalawin natin para mai-deliver natin ng maayos yung point, yung lahat ng sistema or ano yung pwede gawin sa court.”
With just about two more weeks of rest and preparation to come, Akari will shoot for a spot in the single-round robin semifinals in a best-of-three quarters series against the conference’s biggest surprise package yet in upset-conscious Galeries Tower.
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