Soriano lauds Soltones’ maturity, leadership

Shakey’s V-League MVP Grethcel Soltones. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Bali Pure knew it won’t have Alyssa Valdez heading into its battle for third duel with Laoag.

But that seemingly irreplaceable void was ably filled by Gretchel Soltones, whose offensive firepower isn’t the only thing that made her invaluable to her team.

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“I’m very proud of Gretchel. She has shown that she is not the young Gretchel Soltones that we know but a very mature veteran already in the game of volleyball,” said Bali Pure playing-coach Charo Soriano.

“She showed her leadership and she also showed her strength and prowess as an outside hitter and as the co-captain of the team especially with the absence of miss Alyssa Valdez.

Soltones took home the MVP award and capped her dominant campaign averaging 19 points per game in Bali Pure’s two wins over Laoag to capture third place in the Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Open Conference.

READ: Soltones takes home first V-League MVP

The 20-year-old Soltones, San Sebastian’s two-time NCAA MVP, had 20 points in Game 1 last Wednesday before firing 18 in the series-clinching win Saturday, making sure she would sustain her solid form with Valdez suiting up for Ateneo in the Asean University Games in Singapore.