Gretchel Soltones leads Petro Gazz past F2 Logistics in gruelling five setter in the PVL Invitational Conference. -MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Grethcel Soltones unleashed her professional career-high 31 points as Petro Gazz dealt the first defeat of F2 Logistics in a grueling five-setter, 20-25, 25-22, 25-12, 33-35, 15-9, in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference on Thursday at Philsports Arena.
Soltones willed her team back from a 0-4 start in the fifth set, igniting the Angels’ seven-to-nothing run to finish the game, amid the delays caused by the video challenge calls that led to a three-hour and 13-minute match.
The former San Sebastian College star poured in 26 attacks, four blocks, and an ace to stop the Cargo Movers from booking the first semifinal ticket in Pool B as the Angels tied them at 3-1 but the former still has the group lead with nine points — a marker ahead of them.
“Actually, I didn’t expect that [career-high] because all I want is my team to go to the semis next round,” said Soltones shortly after leading her squad to their third straight win.
“I just told myself, I want this game. I need to calm down during the crucial times, and that’s what I always tell my teammates that this situation is not new to us and we can do this,” she added.
After escaping Petro Gazz in the extended fourth set, which lasted for 51 minutes, F2 Logistics brought its momentum into the decider with a 4-0 start off Ivy Lacsina’s cross-court attack and stretched it to a 6-2 lead.
The Angels scored four straight points capped by the Cargo Movers’ rotation error that caused a long delay in the set before the point was awarded to the latter. F2 was able to regain the lead with Aby Maraño’s drop giving her squad a 9-8 lead.
Gretchel Soltones leads Petro Gazz past F2 Logistics in grueling five setter in the PVL Invitational Conference. -MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Soltones scored a pair of kills in Petro Gazz’s 4-0 run for a 12-9 spread before her momentum was halted when the referee called a net touch on her but the Angels coaches called for a challenge that proved that Maraño’s knee touched the net first to keep their run going.
Petro Gazz had another successful challenge when Maraño’s supposed kill was canceled after the video flashed that Lacsina committed a foot fault before the former scored the point that allowed the Angels to reach match point, 14-9, ended by Soltones’ game-winning crosscourt attack.
Jonah Sabete also led the Angels with 20 pints. Aiza Maizo-Pontillas with 15 points and 18 digs. Rem Palma chipped in 12 points, while KC Galdones shone as a starter with four blocks to finish with six markers.
“I’ve been telling my players that people will count us out, but I told them, everything comes together for good. So what I’m telling them earlier in the fourth set and fifth set, this is the Lord’s battle, so there’s nothing to worry about because you prepared for this. We just trusted each other and trusted the Lord for this win,” said Petro Gazz coach Oliver Almadro as they wrap up their pool campaign against Choco Mucho on Saturday.
Majoy Baron unleashed her best PVL game so far with 16 points, highlighted with five blocks but it went for naught as they couldn’t seal the semis berth.
Ivy Lacsina and Kianna Dy delivered 15 and 12 points, respectively. Jolina Dela Cruz had 10 points and eight receptions, helping libero Dawn Macandili-Catindig, who protected the floor with 26 digs and 12 receptions.
F2 Logistics will try to bounce back against Foton on Tuesday next week.