Soltones stresses need to be selfless in star-studded Petro Gazz

BACARRA, ILOCOS NORTE – After a long wait, Petro Gazz finally unleashed its three-headed monster in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference on Sunday here at the PCV Socio-Civic Cultural Center.

And boy, it was definitely worth the wait.

In their first game together in an Angels uniform, the three elite scorers in Grethcel Soltones, Myla Pablo, and Ces Molina proved to be good as advertised as they shouldered the scoring load in Petro Gazz’s four-set 25-19, 22-25, 25-20, 25-21, victory over Black Mamba-Army.

Soltones finished with a game-high 18 points built on 16 attacks an ace, and a block while Pablo and Molina collected 16 and 15 points, respectively, in Petro Gazz’s first win of the season.

For the former PLDT star, their impressive offensive outing is only rooted in one thing and one thing only – selflessness.

”Iniisip namin na hindi kailangan ikaw yung kumbaga kaming tatlo dominante kami sabi nila sa kanya kanyang teams namin before,” said the 2016 V-League Conference Most Valuable Player.

“Pero ang iniisip namin kailangan ibaba namin yung ego namin as a player. Hindi naman magwowork ang isang team kung pataasan lang kayo. So ayun nga sabi ng coach namin na kahit galing kayo sa ibang team at kayo inaasahan kailangan pagdating sa court walang mas lamang, walang mas ibabaw basta pantay pantay lang lahat.”

Petro Gazz coach Arnold Laniog was impressed with what he saw from the team, especially from the three. But still, the College of St. Benilde tactician believes that the squad can still improve more moving forward.

And they plan to do it one game at a time until they reach their main goal of winning the Open Conference championship.

“Honestly one and a half months pa lang kaming magkakasama, so yun nga based doon sa last training namin sa Manila doon sa bubble don, hindi pa natin nakikita yung pulidong galaw natin as a group but basically because of every other day na [schedule] natin, doon natin made-develop hopefully,” said Laniog.

“So ayun lang, sabi ko, ‘Wag lang tayong magsawa na aralin yung isa’t isa para mapatibay pa natin yung chemistry ng team kasi yun naman yung challenge e.’ Sabi ko naman sa kanila skillful tayo individually but team event ang volleyball.”