Akari brought in another offensive muscle at the wing spot after signing veteran power-hitter Grethcel Soltones to reinforce the Chargers for the coming 2024 Premier Volleyball League.
The club formally announced the addition of the 28-year-old open spiker on 3 January, as it joined the frantic arms race ahead of the league’s season-opening tournament beginning 17 February.
Soltones, a three-time National Collegiate Athletic Association Most Valuable Player, parted ways with Petro Gazz after three years of service.
The San Sebastian College product, who helped Petro Gazz in its 2022 Reinforced Conference conquest, will add experience and maturity to the Chargers composed mostly of young talents led by open hitter Faith Nisperos.
Soltones will provide another scoring option for prized setter Michelle Cobb and will solidify Akari’s floor defense with her defensive prowess to back liberos Justine Jazareno and Bang Pineda.
The Cebuana standout averaged 13.8 points in her last stint with the Angels in the PVL 2nd All-Filipino Conference. The 2017 PVL Open Conference Finals Most Valuable Player normed 2.52 digs per set and had an impressive 31.25 efficiency percentage in reception to showcase her all-around game in the previous tournament.
Soltones is also expected to join hands with seasoned opposite hitter Dindin Santiago-Manabat in leading the young and promising squad, which is entering its fifth conference since making its debut in the 2022 Reinforced Conference.
Akari, which is yet to announce its replacement for resigned Brazilian coach Jorge Souza de Brito, finished the 2nd AFC in seventh place with a 5-6 win-loss record.
Meanwhile, Choco Mucho released opposite spiker Caitlin Viray in a surprising move for the 2023 PVL 2nd All-Filipino Conference runner-up.
The University of Santo Tomas product was a vital cog in the Flying Titans’ amazing run I the previous conference nwhere they made a breakthrough finals appearance against sister team and eventual unbeaten champion Creamline.
Viray, who played back-up for Choco Muchio standout Kat Tolentino, is expected to join another title contender squad.
