The Creamline Cool Smashers are headed to the PVL finals once again. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Tots Carlos led the collective effort of the Creamline Cool Smashers in completing the sweep of the Chery Tiggo Crossovers for their sixth straight Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference Finals trip.
The Cool Smashers once again shut down the Crossovers, 26-24, 25-21, 25-21, in Game 2 on Saturday to seal a shot at their fifth All-Filipino crown and seventh PVL title in the 10th finals stint in the last 11 conferences.
Carlos, the reigning Most Valuable Player, poured in 19 points to go with 13 excellent receptions and seven digs to lead the Cool Smashers in the win over the young Crossovers side.
But she deflected the credit to setter Kyle Negrito, who has stepped up big time since Creamline lost star playmaker Jia De Guzman due to her Japan stint in Denso in the V.League.
Creamline star Tots Carlos. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
“I’m speechless because we’ve been through a lot without ate Jia and Celine [Domingo], of course, they were our key players. But we’re really happy because we’re here and it’s because of our collective effort,” said Carlos whose team also played without Ced Domingo, who is in Thailand with Nakhon Ratchasima.
“We’re just happy because Kyle stepped up in the game and she knows what to do. We’re happy because we’re back in the finals but it’s not yet done we have to take it one game at a time and one point at a time. We’ll train tomorrow,” she added.
Jema Galanza delivered 17 points and eight receptions for Creamline. Alyssa Valdez chipped in 14 points including two blocks, while Jeanette Panaga had 10 points including three kill blocks.
Creamline battles the winner of the Choco Mucho-Cignal semifinals series which extended to a deciding Game 3 set for Tuesday at 6 p.m.
The Cool Smashers open the Finals on Thursday at Mall of Asia Arena.
“We’re happy because we’re in the finals again but we will keep on aiming higher, winning the championship. We will prepare for now, focusing on our system since we don’t know yet who we will be facing,” Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses said.
Chery Tiggo absorbed its fourth straight loss after getting swept by Creamline and was relegated to the battle of third.
EJ Laure was the lone bright spot for the Crossovers with 14 points and 10 receptions with her sister Eya playing sparingly in the last two sets and finishing with five points after feeling under the weather. Pauline Gaston and Shaya Adorado had nine and eight points, respectively.
Mylene Paat was scoreless, playing in the first two sets.