PVL organizers call Soltones’ PSL ban ‘absurd, uncalled for’

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net

Embattled open spiker Grethcel Soltones found an ally in  Sports Vision, the organizer of the Premier Volleyball League, following her one-year ban and P50,000 fine handed out by the Philippine Superliga.

“The suspension and hefty fine on Soltones by the PSL officials is absurd and totally uncalled for,” Sports Vision president Ricky Palou said in a statement released to the media on Tuesday.

The PSL punished Soltones on Monday for supposedly violating the One League Policy after the former three-time NCAA MVP, who was signed with Iriga in the ongoing PSL Grand Prix, suited up in the 2017 PVL All-Star Game.

Palou argued the “ridiculous” penalty, noting that the former San Sebastian hitter “has no contract with the PSL.”

“She is only on loan to the team of Iriga as her mother league is the PVL,” the league executive wrote.

Palou also thinks Soltones did nothing wrong as the PVL All-Star Game was done for the benefit of HERO Foundation, a foundation established to raise scholarship funds for children of soldiers who gave up their lives in the line of duty.

“I don’t see anything wrong with what Gretchel did. In fact she should be commended for helping in this fund-raising event by her participation,” he said.

The All-Star event has been staged yearly by the PVL to benefit a charitable institution or victims of calamities.

Palou also stressed that the 2017 PVL All-Star has been scheduled at the start of the season, even before Soltones was borrowed by Iriga to play in the PSL.