PVL: Gretchel Soltones returns with a vengeance for Akari

After being sidelined for months due to a hand strain, Grethcel Soltones made an immediate impact to help the Akari Chargers secure a hard-fought victory over the Farm Fresh Foxies, 25-11, 23-25, 18-25, 25-15, 15-9, on Tuesday, March 4, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.

Soltones provided the late-game spark Akari needed, delivering three consecutive clutch hits to finish with 11 points, including three blocks.

Her performance also complemented Best Player of the Game Ivy Lacsina, who led the Chargers with 22 points, built on 21 attacks and one block.

The match marked Soltones' first game since December 10, 2023, when the Chargers defeated the Chery Tiggo Crossovers in four sets. Beyond her scoring and defensive contributions, the 29-year-old outside hitter provided much-needed stability and composure in a grueling five-set battle that lasted two hours and 27 minutes.

“I honestly didn’t expect to be subbed in since Akari played really well in the first set,” Soltones shared in Filipino during the post-game press conference. “But Coach Taka (Takayuki Minowa) told me to be ready. I observed both our team and the opponents so that when I entered, I knew exactly what to do.”

And when her moment came, she proved she was worthy of her coach’s trust.

The Chargers dominated the opening set, even holding a 12-point lead, but struggled in the next two frames as Farm Fresh fought back. Fortunately, Akari had a battle-tested veteran in Soltones, who stepped up in crucial moments to help turn the tide and secure the victory.

With the win, Akari clinched a quarterfinals berth, joining Creamline, Petro Gazz, Choco Mucho, and Galeries Tower. 

Meanwhile, Farm Fresh was relegated to the play-in tournament, where they must fight to stay in contention.