BY ABBY TORALBA
AKARI and Cignal have bolstered their respective line-ups by adding key spikers ahead of the new PVL season.
The Chargers yesterday announced the arrival of veteran open spiker Grethcel Soltones.
“The Akari Chargers welcome decorated outside spiker Grethcel Soltones,” the team said on its social media account. “More firepower and championship experience. Let’s light it up, Lady Beast.”
The former PVL finals MVP suited up for the Petro Gazz Angels for three seasons.
Soltones’ addition will surely boost Akari’s campaign in the season-opening tilt next month as she teams up with Faith Nisperos, Fifi Sharma and Dindin Santiago-Manabat.
Meanwhile, Cignal signed up opposite hitter Jovelyn Fernandez from the defunct F2 Logistics Cargo Movers.
“As one of the more experienced teams dito sa PVL, sobrang suwerte namin to get one of the youngest players in Jovelyn this year. Hopefully, we can continue to develop her and help her reach iyong full potential niya dito sa professional level,” HD Spikers coach Shaq Delos Santos said in a statement.
Fernandez added: “Sobrang happy to be a part of this Cignal team, especially with how they finished strong in the last two conferences sa PVL. Looking forward din ako na matuto kay coach Shaq and sa ates ko na galing din sa FEU. I’m excited to learn new things and kung paano ko madadala sa next level iyong laro ko through his help and with the whole coaching staff dito sa Cignal.”
Fernandez joined former teammate, libero Dawn Macandili-Catindig, in Cignal along with mainstays Ces Molina, Vanie Gandler, and Gel Cayuna.
The HD Spikers, before announcing their newest acquisition yesterday, parted ways with liberos Bia General, Anngela Nunag and wing spiker Jerrili Malaban.
The three players helped Cignal in their bronze medal finish in the All-Filipino Conference last year.
Opposite spiker Caitlin Viray also left the Choco Mucho Flying Titans.
Viray had a breakout season last year, playing as a starter for a few games and helped Choco Mucho in its silver medal finish in the second All-Filipino Conference, the Flying Titans’ first medal in the league.
