Soltones shines for Smart; Generika makes it 2 straight

Grethcel Soltones (left) powers in a point for Smart in their game against Cocolife. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Grethcel Soltones unleashed 17 points and got enough help from her teammates to power Smart past Cocolife, 25-16, 18-25, 25-20, 23-25, 15-11, Thursday in the Philippine Superliga All Filipino Conference at Filoil Flying V Center.

The ever-giggling hitter with sledgehammer arms slammed down points at will, including three in the final frame, to ensure the Giga Hitters’ second win in four games.

In the second game, Generika-Ayala chalked its second straight win at the expense of Sta. Lucia Realty, 25-7, 25-11, 25-21.

The Lifesavers improved to 2-3 while inflicting on the Lady Realtors their fifth defeat in as many matches.

“Maybe that confidence we got after beating F2 Logistics carried on today,” said Angeli Araneta, referring to their breakthrough 19-25, 25-22, 25-26, 28-26 win over the Cargo Movers on Tuesday.

Araneta and Riri Meneses each scored 11 points for Generika-Ayala.

The win enabled Smart to break a two-game losing streak which, according to starting setter Jasmine Nabor, they took very badly.

“We told ourselves ‘let’s not go home without winning this’ because we really want to get back after losing those two games,” Nabor, a national team setter, said in Filipino.

She was referring to straight sets losses to top teams Foton and Petron, which dampened the Giga Hitters’ strong opening day win over Sta. Lucia Realty.

Middle blocker Czarina Carandang finished with 14 points for Smart which out-attacked Cocolife, 63-53, all match long. Nabor had six points aside from 24 excellent sets.

Jerrili Malabanan and Joyce Sta. Rita added 10 points each for Smart.