Creamline Cool Smashers’ Tots Carlos, left, during a PVL game.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Tots Carlos will miss Creamline’s semifinal round opener against Choco Mucho in the PVL All-Filipino Conference on Tuesday.
Carlos and Chery Tiggo star Mylene Paat, who will also skip the Crossovers’ semis game against Petro Gazz, attended the 2024 Korean V-League Women’s Asian Quota Draft tryouts, which began with the pre-draft proceedings on Monday.
The two are among the 36 Asian aspirants, trying out until Wednesday as both will miss the semis opener for their respective teams.
READ: Mylene Paat tries out for Korea V-League, will miss Chery Tiggo games
It is still uncertain if the Philippine women’s volleyball team mainstays will make it on Thursday for the second day of the semifinal round, where the top two teams advance to the best-of-three finals.
Missing the three-time MVP Carlos is a huge blow for Creamline as she has been the team’s leading scorer in the elimination round with a total of 193 points and the league’s top spiker with a 41.36% attack rate.
Creamline, which has a 12-game winning streak against sister team Choco Mucho, banks on veteran opposite spiker Michele Gumabao while Carlos is out.
Coach Sherwin Meneses continues to pin his hopes on Alyssa Valdez, Jema Galanza, Pangs Panaga, Bea De Leon, and setter Kyle Negrito against reigning MVP Sisi Rondina and the Flying Titans under coach Dante Alinsunurin at 4 p.m.
MJ Phillips, on the other hand, will be on Petro Gazz’s side when it battles Chery Tiggo at 6 p.m. as she is already exempted from the tryouts after playing one season with the Gwangju AI Peppers.
“For the players that already played in the KOVO, we don’t need to attend the tryouts. So only the players [there] are newcomers, so I’ll still be here,” said Phillips, who returned to the PVL with 11 points on Saturday.
Chery Tiggo is prepared to play without Paat as it is eager to keep its seven-game winning streak going in the semis.