Soltones still adjusting to new role as assistant coach for San Sebastian

FILE PHOTO – Gretchel Soltones, center, sits on the San Sebastian bench. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Grethcel Soltones, for the better part of her five-year collegiate career, has been the undoubted face of San Sebastian winning the NCAA MVP trophy three times.

And on Sunday she’s back donning the red-and-gold of the Lady Stags not as a player, but as an assistant coach.

The bubbly Soltones kept her eyes on the game the Lady Stags lost in straight sets against Far Eastern University, 25-17, 25-21, 25-14, and she still pictured herself jumping and running around on the floor instead of sitting at the bench.

“I still can’t believe that I’m coaching and not playing for my school,” said Soltones in Filipino Sunday at Filoil Flying V Centre.

Soltones had her former teammate Kath Villegas joining her on the sidelines and the two were bombarded with teases from the younger Lady Stags. 

“Our former teammates were teasing us and calling us ‘coach’ sarcastically and yeah it’s still a new experience for us.”