Creamline Cool Smashers’ Tots Carlos in the PVL All-Filipino COnference. –PVL PHOTO
Tots Carlos erased Creamline’s two-set deficit by setting a PVL-high 38 points—the most of any local player—to survive a 26-28, 22-25, 25-22, 25-21, 16-14 marathon match against Cignal late Tuesday night at PhilSports Arena.
The Cool Smashers avoided a second loss this All-Filipino Conference behind the career-best performance of Carlos, who got the accolade through 35 attacks and three blocks.
“Syempre ayaw naming matalo so wala namang special or anything sa mga ginawa namin today. It’s just that we really played our hearts out,” Carlos said after carrying Creamline to its sixth win in seven games with its lone loss coming from an upset to Chery Tiggo.
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Kyle Negrito distributed her conference-best 35 excellent sets that also allowed Jema Galanza to contribute 14 points from 13 attacks and an ace, Bernadeth Pons, who made a difference after starting in the last three sets, 13 points and Pangs Panaga 11 points.
Galanza also made her mark on the defense with 30 excellent digs and 11 excellent receptions.
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“Ayaw naming matalo kasi naranasan na namin yung ganung scenario before …Nakakampante naman ako kay coach lagi kapag sinasabi niya na ‘kapag pinalo mo puntos, kapag hindi eh ‘di hindi. At least binigay mo yung best mo’” the powerful spiker said.
Creamline Cool Smashers in the PVL All-Filipino COnference. –PVL PHOTO
“Gusto ko lang talaga na manalo yung team and masaya ako na nakapag-execute kami nung mga bandang huli na,” she added.
Cignal looked like it was about to replicate the Crossovers’ feat but squandered the strong two-set advantage in the two-hour and 43 minute contest and dropped to a 4-2 win-loss standing.
Jovelyn Gonzaga poured in 22 points from 19 attacks and three blocks while lacing it with 21 excellent digs and 16 excellent receptions.
Roselyn Doria and Ces Molina produced 19 points each, Riri Meneses 12 points while Vanie Gandler was restricted to eight points after cramping in the fourth set like team captain Molina.
SCHEDULE: PVL All-Filipino Conference 2024
With the game at 10-all, the HD Spikers rushed to the match point with four consecutive attacks behind Molina and Chai Troncoso, who scored back to back crucial aces in the endgame, 14-11.
But Carlos entered the zone and hammered four straight points on her own for the lead, 14-15, before Panaga delivered the game-clinching point through a drop attack.
“Mataas yung score, hindi mataas yung score [ni Tots] basta makuha namin yung panalo kasi napakahalaga nung panalo ngayon sa standing ng ibang teams kasi dikit dikit talaga siya,” Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses said.
“Talagang every game kailangan mong makuha. Masaya ako kasi na-experience na naman namin yung ganitong laro. Nag-improve na naman kami sa ganitong laro. Hopefully, mas maganda yung i-galaw namin sa next game namin,” he added.