Soltones always welcome at Iriga

MANILA, Philippines – The doors of Iriga City will always be open for Grethcel Soltones to enter.

Iriga City head coach Parley Tupas said Soltones would always occupy a very special place in their team despite being banished in the ongoing Chooks to Go-Philippine Superliga Grand Prix.

Tupas and Soltones have been together for the past few years.

In fact, Tupas served as trainer when Soltones competed with the national team in the AVC Asian U23 Women’s Championship and the 29th Southeast Asian Games in 2015.

They were also together with BaliPure in the Premier Volleyball League.

This year, they were supposed to compete together again.

But after one game — a five-set win over Sta. Lucia Realty — Soltones was slapped with a one-year suspension for violating the long-existing “one-league” policy.

Tupas admitted that moving on from Soltones’ absence was pretty tough.

“Around 12 points siguro ang nawala sa amin sa pagkawala ni Grethcel. Mahirap hanapin yun,” said Tupas following a 25-19, 25-21, 25-20 victory over guest team Victoria Sports-UST Thursday at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

It was the Lady Oragons’ first win without Soltones.

“Pero nandiyan na yan eh. Nire-respespeto namin ang liga at tinatanggap namin ang desisyon nila. Sisiguraduhin na lang namin na maganda ang maging performance namin sa quarterfinals.”

Tupas, however, said that they are keeping their doors open for the former San Sebastian star.

“Bukas naman ang pinto namin parati. Welcome pa din siya bumalik.”

“Pero syempre, kailangan i-serve nya ang suspension nya kasi policy ng liga yun. After that, gusto pa din namin na makasama siya.”