Tots Carlos as opposite spiker sharpens Creamline attack

Comfortable in her old position, Tots Carlos drills in a kill. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

There’s another Premier Volleyball League star playing a new position in the young Invitational Conference—and so far providing massive numbers.

Showing her versatility, Tots Carlos dropped 24 points for Creamline as an opposite spiker in a straight-sets thumping of souped-up Chery Tiggo in the inaugurals on Tuesday, as the Cool Smashers looked even more unbeatable with the switch that was necessitated with Alyssa Valdez returning to the rotation.

“I’m just so happy, because this has been my position for a long time,” Carlos, who played the entire All-Filipino Conference as an outside spiker, said as Creamline shoots for a second straight win on Thursday against newcomer Gerflor.

“I feel more comfortable right now,” added Carlos, who still went on to win Most Valuable Player (MVP).

That game is set at 1:30 p.m. at FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.

Comfortable at her position certainly sends shockwaves to the rest of the field, as Valdez will certainly be another reliable weapon for coach Sherwin Meneses.

Ivy Lacsina is the other star playing a different position, leading F2 Logistics with 13 points as an outside hitter in a tight victory over newcomer Farm Fresh also on Tuesday.

The former middle blocker out of Adamson was broken in by coach Regine Diego in a 25-22, 25-20, 25-23 win over the Foxies that gives the Cargo Movers a different dimension offensively and a better chance against a powerhouse like Creamline.

Deadly troika

Alyssa Valdez returns to action after a long recovery from injury. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Valdez, the three-time MVP, is slowly being immersed back into the thick of things after a long layoff because of a knee injury. Having her healthy gives Creamline possibly the deadliest troika this league has seen together with Jema Galanza.

But Meneses is not about to fall into the notion that it will be all offense that could get things done in the Cool Smashers’ title defense.

“We just want to continue using our system to full effect,” Meneses said in Filipino after a 25-22, 25-22, 25-17 win over the Crossovers. “We want to keep on doing that no matter which team we play. The top priority (of the players) is to keep understanding the system.

“We just want to keep improving every day.”