SAN SEBASTIAN star Grethcel Soltones played under the weather but still lifted the Lady Stags past University of Santo Tomas, 25-20, 25-18, 16-25, 25-19, in the quarterfinals of the Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Collegiate Conference yesterday at Philsports Arena.
“Grethcel even has fever,” said San Sebastian deputy Clint Malazo. “Good thing the players were able recover [from every UST challenge].”
Hardly slowing down, Soltones unleashed 21 of her 23 points off attacks to help the Lady Stags prop up their semifinal drive with a 2-1 carryover record.
The Tigresses’ second quarterfinal loss, though, booted them out of Final Four contention.
Even minus top hitters EJ Laure and Cherry Rondina, the Tigresses grabbed the early lead in three of the four sets.
But Soltones kept bailing the Lady Stags out as they played catch up for most of the fourth set and even trailed by as many as five points, 13-18, in the opening frame.
The Lady Stags also kept scoring in bunches, the last a 7-0 run that shattered a 17-17 deadlock before wrapping up the match, 25-19.
Laure and Rondina, who missed their second straight game with UST, are playing in a Thailand club tournament.
Katherine Villegas and Joyce Sta. Rita added nine points each, while Alyssa Eroa tallied 30 digs for the Lady Stags.
La Salle also boosted its semifinal bid after blasting Philippine Merchant Marine School, 25-23, 25-22, 25-22, in the Spikers’ Turf Season 2 Collegiate Conference.
The victory put the Archers in a four-way tie at 3-1 with Perpetual Help, National University and Far Eastern University in Group A.
Only the top two teams in each group will advance to the Final Four.
Mike Frey and Cris Dumago combined for 21 points to lead the Archers even as top hitter Raymark Woo tallied just seven.
In Group B, National College of Business and Arts downed Emilio Aguinaldo College, 25-19, 25-21, 23-25, 25-23, to pick up its first win in four outings.
Jason Canlas fired 19 points to pace the also-ran NCBA squad.