Soltones shrugs off fatigue, powers San Sebastian over UST

Games Saturday

(The Arena, San Juan)

4 p.m. – FEU vs San Sebastian

6 p.m. – Ateneo vs UP

MANILA, Philippines – Not even a fever could stop San Sebastian's Gretchel Soltones could dish out an MVP-like performance.

Showed little signs of fatigue after being in sickbay for two days now, Soltones went on attack mode as San Sebastian downed Santo Tomas, 25-20, 25-18, 16-25, 25-19, Wednesday to boost its semifinals bid in the Shakey's V-League Season 13-Collegiate Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

The power-hitting Soltones didn't look like she's in sickbay as she drilled in a match-best 23 hits including 21 on kills as the Lady Stags nailed their second victory against a loss to lead the Lady Stags to their second win against a loss.

"She's the captain of this team and she is leading by example by the way she's playing even though she came in sick," said San Sebastian assistant coach Clint Malaza in Filipino referring to Soltones, who is also the reigning Open Conference and NCAA MVP.

It was Soltones who willed the Lady Stags back after finding themselves in a 12-18 deficit in the opening set.

"It woke us up because we were really playing flat at the start," said Malazo.

Eya Laure, a Santo Tomas high school student who is playing as a guest player, continued to impress and led the Tigresses with 16 points but they just didn't have enough in the end to prevent a Soltones show.

The loss eliminated UST, which went out with a 0-4 (win-loss) record, leaving San Sebastian, Far Eastern U (2-0), defending champion National U (2-1), State U (1-1) and Ateneo (1-1) battling it out for the four semis spots.

San Sebastian could clinch a spot in the semis if it could beat FEU on Saturday at The Arena in San Juan and UP on Aug. 31 at Philsports Arena.