Grethcel Soltones pushes through flu, sustains high intensity play to lead Akari to a gritty victory

Even at less than full strength, Grethcel Soltones found a way to make her presence felt where it mattered most—on the court and in the huddle.

Akari’s veteran spiker wasn’t just playing through discomfort, she was setting the tone. Despite quietly dealing with the flu since their previous game against Creamline, Soltones delivered a composed and steady performance that helped lift the Akari Chargers to a tense four-set victory over the Galeries Tower Highrisers in the 2026 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference.

The Chargers’ 25-23, 25-23, 14-25, 26-24 triumph stretched their winning run to five games, but the story behind it ran deeper than the scoreboard.

“Since Creamline game, ‘di na po ako okay. Pero ‘yun nga, hindi ako nagsasabi kasi ayoko rin po silang mag-isip, lalo na si coach [Tina Salak],” said the 30-year-old spiker.

Soltones revealed she had been unable to train fully leading into the match, only managing to return to practice a day prior while still struggling to breathe and speak comfortably.

“Nung Sunday, World Bex, kailangan po naming pumunta doon. Doon na po nag-start na magka-trangkaso ako. Hindi ako nakapag-training, kahapon lang ako nakapag-training ulit, kaya hirap ako huminga. Si Coach Tina, nag-a-adjust din sa akin kasi hindi ako makahinga nang maayos. Sa pananalita ko rin, para akong may mic,” she added.

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AKARI WIN STREAK CONTINUES

Akari head coach Tina Salak and Grethcel Soltones talk about their 25-23, 25-23, 14-25, 26-24 victory over Galeries in Santa Rosa, Laguna to boost their bid for a qualifying round berth. #PVL2026 | via @kennedyzcaacbay pic.twitter.com/ORVY3AsVQr

— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) March 17, 2026

Rather than dominate statistically, Soltones anchored the floor defense with eight digs and contributed eight points, while guiding her teammates through high-pressure moments. 

Her leadership became even more vital when Galeries Tower surged back in the third set and threatened to force a decider in the fourth.

Akari head coach Tina Salak recognized that impact beyond the numbers.

“Commend ko talaga si Gretch. Under the weather ‘to since yesterday,” the veteran coach said.

With Soltones rallying the team, the Chargers held their composure late in the fourth set, closing out the match and improving to a 5-3 record which is another step closer to the qualifying round.

For Akari, the win extended their streak. For Soltones, it underscored something more enduring that leadership isn’t always about peak performance, it’s about showing up, even when your body says otherwise.

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