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Volleyball: Smart opens PSL campaign with sweep of Sta. Lucia

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/sports/10/30/20181030-gretchel-soltones.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>Smart&#x27;s Grethcel Soltones (R) tests the defense of Sta. Lucia. Handout photo</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines – Smart flirted with disaster before pulling off a tight three-set victory over Sta. Lucia, 25-20, 25-19, 25-23, to open their campaign in the Philippine Superliga (PSL) All-Filipino Conference on Tuesday at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan.Grethcel Soltones marked her return to the PSL by providing the spark for the Giga Hitters, scoring a game-high 17 points.&quot;I&#x27;m very happy to be back,&quot; said Soltones, who was slapped with a <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/11/06/17/grethcel-soltones-slapped-with-one-year-suspension-by-psl">one-year ban</a> by the PSL last November 2017 for violating its one-league policy but has since worked things out with the league.Smart broke loose from a 19-all deadlock in the third set by scoring five straight points to reach match point, 24-19.Sta. Lucia got to within one, 24-23, before Soltones took matters into her own hands and scored the match-winner.&quot;I&#x27;m happy with the win,&quot; said Smart coach Roger Gorayeb, who is back in the PSL after five years.&quot;We&#x27;ve prepared for this, and I want all of my players to gain confidence,&quot; he added.Team captain Pam Lastimosa finished with eight points for Sta. Lucia, which is playing without the injured Chin Basas and Fil-Am star MJ Philips.For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.

Smart flirted with disaster before pulling off a tight three-set victory over Sta. Lucia, 25-20, 25-19, 25-23, to open their campaign in the PSL All-Filipino Conference on Tuesday at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

Smart flirted with disaster before pulling off a tight three-set victory over Sta. Lucia, 25-20, 25-19, 25-23, to open their campaign in the PSL All-Filipino Conference on Tuesday at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan.