Soltones jumps over to Akari

MANILA, Philippines — Akari added another superstar to its fast evolving team via the blockbuster Grethcel Soltones acquisition yesterday, boosting its Premier Volleyball League stock for the season-opening All-Filipino Conference set Feb. 17.

Soltones had a successful three-year stint with Petrogazz highlighted by a championship in last year’s Reinforced Conference.

With the Chargers, the high-flying, power-spiking former NCAA MVP from San Sebastian should be a key addition to an already souped up squad including Dindin Santiago-Manabat and ex-college titans Faith Nisperos and Fifi Sharma.

Akari is also set to tap a new coach and a successor to Jorge Souza de Brito.

Meanwhile, the Cignal HD Spikers continued their offseason buildup as they snatched free agent opposite spiker Jovelyn Fernandez.

The former FEU Lady Tamaraw played two conferences for F2 Logistics, and had nowhere to go after the Cargo Movers were disbanded last month.

On Tuesday, Chery Tiggo signed two other former F2 players in Aby Maraño and Ara Galang who are joining a battery of spikers, headlined by former league MVP Mylene Paat, the Laure sisters, and Princess Robles.

“I’m very thankful kasi may opportunity na ganito na maglaro sa Chery, and super excited din kasi unang-una, first time ko lang din (na) makakasama ng iba talaga, so pumunta ako sa team na wala gaanong kakilala,” said Galang.

Fernandez, Best Opposite Spiker in the UAAP Season 85, was welcomed by the HD Spikers with open arms.

Fernandez brings her young career to one of the country’s oldest volleyball pro clubs as Cignal celebrated its first full decade in the PVL last year.