PVL: Soltones likely out for Game 2 but Petro Gazz vows to keep on fighting

Grethcel Soltones injures her knee in Game 1 of the PVL Finals. PVL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Grethcel Soltones is doubtful for the remainder of the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference Finals after hurting her right knee in the fourth set of Petro Gazz’s loss to Creamline on Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.

Petro Gazz head coach Jerry Yee said Soltones is unlikely to return in Game 2 on Friday at Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo as she will undergo an MRI on Thursday morning to test her right knee.

Soltones had 12 points before she asked her coaches to sub her out after hurting her knee from a dig attempt late in the fourth set. Myla Pablo also suffered from cramps in the third set and Nicole Tiamzon also hurt her ankle but she played in the last two sets as a substitute for Soltones.

“Myla suffered from cramps. Nicole tweaked her ankle. Grethc, we will schedule her MRI tomorrow morning. It looks bad,” said Yee after their 16-25, 25-23, 12-25, 30-32 loss to Creamline.

“Yeah [she is doubtful for the next game] because we only have one day rest and preparation, the following day is our next game. I don’t know,” he added.

Petro Gazz’s Jonah Sabete. PVL PHOTO

Yee is hoping for the next man up mentality from his bench, led by Jonah Sabete, after Soltones’ setback as they fight to keep their championship hopes alive in Game 2.

“Similar role. We have Jonah. I hope she will step up even she was jittery earlier. We have a deep bench  to replace our first stringers. We have tomorrow to train a little and review a little. We will keep on fighting,” he said.

With their backs against the wall, the Petro Gazz coach is sticking to the positives of their gallant stand in the fourth set led by Sabete and MJ Phillips.

“I’m still positive about our chances. Even we’re a depleted team earlier, at least for us we matched Creamline’s level. We got the right match ups. But the next game will be a different story and we’ll have a different line up. Man down so someone has to step up,” Yee said.

“If you will see, Creamline is a tough team to beat so we are happy somehow that we narrowed down the things that we needed to. We showed some heart.”