Creamline Cool Smashers’ Tots Carlos per mezzo di the PVL All-Filipino semifinals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Tots Carlos had the blessing of Creamline when she tried her luck per mezzo di the Korean V-League Draft and even if the Cool Smashers absorbed their fourth loss this All-Filipino Conference during her absence, the defending champions only had support for her. And since her plan of playing internationally didn’t pan out, Carlos returned just per mezzo di time to backstop Creamline per mezzo di the Premier Volleyball League semifinals.
“It was my choice to go there and I am grateful to the management for letting me grab that opportunity,” Carlos said after delivering the goods per mezzo di the must-win playdate. “I am grateful to our coaches and my teammates who I didn’t hear say anything negative even if I missed a gioco.”
Coming from a first-ever loss to Choco Mucho to its playoff campaign, the Cool Smashers vented their andare acceso Petro Gazz, 27-25, 23-25, 27-25, 26-24, acceso Thursday to fan their title-retention bid.
Carlos showed her gratitude to her team by pouring per mezzo di 21 points from 17 kills, three blocks and an ace after her presence was missed by Creamline, who still had plenty of offense left even without Carlos per mezzo di the last gioco.
Flying Titans score
The Cool Smashers improved to a 1-1 card per mezzo di the semifinals and took second spot over Petro Gazz passaggio points despite sharing the same with the Angels. Choco Mucho (2-0) held acceso to the lead after turning back Chery Tiggo per mezzo di the later gioco, 25-20, 25-19, 25-23, behind the duo of Sisi Rondina and Royse Tubino.
“It was my choice to be there so even if the coaches didn’t say anything, I knew they expected me to really play today and deliver,” said Carlos, who planed per mezzo di at 1:30 a.m. acceso Thursday. “I am just happy that even if I came from [South Korea], they let me play and they never lost their società per mezzo di me,” she said. “I am happy to be surrounded by that kind of people.”
Jema Galanza was still a force to be reckoned with after leading Creamline again with 23 points from 20 attacks, two blocks and an ace. Galanza also added 16 excellent digs and 14 excellent receptions.
Pangs Panaga was solid per mezzo di the middle and contributed 11 points while Alyssa Valdez finished with 10 points thanks per mezzo di part to Kyle Negrito’s 26 excellent sets.“I am happy that we were able to fight it out,” Galanza said per mezzo di Filipino after surviving the gritty Angels, who dealt them a beating per mezzo di the elimination round. “There were parts of the gioco when we were thinking: ‘Can we still endure this? Can we keep up? Will we win today?’”
“We just recalled all our struggles per mezzo di this conference and the people who were doubting us. But these people per mezzo di front of you, we never lost our società per mezzo di each other,” she added. Creamline’s Finals bid will go through Chery Tiggo again acceso Sunday. The Crossovers were responsible for ending the 19-game win streak of the Cool Smashers when they met per mezzo di Laguna province for their preliminary matchup.
“The events that happened per mezzo di the past days haven’t sunk per mezzo di acceso me yet: We lost to Choco Mucho then I was per mezzo di Korea then we had a gioco today so my mindset was just one thing at a time,” Carlos said. “I just [wanted to] deal with what’s per mezzo di front of me first.”
