Grethcel Soltones, a three-time NCAA Most Valuable Player, was reaching her tiptop form when the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic forced everything to shut down. Now that’s a big blow for someone as competitive as her.
The 24-year-old national team member had just joined Petro Gazz as part of its massive build up for the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) season.
“About the current situation, I’m disappointed. Because as a player, I felt that I had reached top physical and mental conditioning already,” she told the Inquirer in Filipino.
“I had set so many goals for this year but I guess everything will have to take the back seat,” added Soltones, who hails from Catmon, Cebu.
Known for her thunderous spikes and strong court presence, Soltones powered San Sebastian in the NCAA before playing for several club teams both in the PVL and the Philippine Superliga (PSL).
Grethcel Soltones wants to stay in the same shape that brought her three NCAA MVPs with San Sebastian College. —TRISTAN TAMAYO/INQUIRER.NET
“But that’s life, unexpected things are bound to happen,” she said. The only sure thing, according to her, is that she has to stay fit—and thanks to a popular videoconferencing app, she is doing just that.
When the 5-foot-8 open spiker is not working out by her lonesome, she joins training sessions with her teammates about three times a week via Zoom.
Those online workouts also fill the social void for the players, who have been locked inside their homes by the quarantine imposed to curb the health crisis.
“We have Zoom workout as a team, which helps especially those who live alone,” she added. “That’s a good thing because we still have communication. Thanks to gadgets and social media.”
Soltones joined Jerrili Malabanan and Ivy Perez in the Petro Gazz camp right after leaving PLDT in the PSL.
She played for the national team in the 2015 Southeast Asian Games, 2015 Asian under-23 women’s volleyball championships, 2018 Asian women’s championships and the 2019 SEA Grand Prix.
Several players in the volleyball circles have turned to online apps to keep in shape as the country continues to battle the current pandemic.
Coaches normally send training modules to players, who work out on their own, sometimes with modified equipment.