Tots Carlos has come out of her shell during Creamline’s campaign in the 2022 Premier Volleyball League Open Conference.
Armed with a much-improved attack and floor defense, the 5-foot-9 spiker out of University of the Philippines led the Cool Smashers – which has the likes of Alyssa Valdez, Jema Galanza, and Jia De Guzman – to their first professional title after taking down Petro Gazz in two games in the finals.
Carlos also bagged the Most Valuable Player award and Best Opposite Spiker award to cap off her breakout season for the famed Creamline squad.
And for Valdez, who has been holding the Cool Smashers’ torch since the team joined the league, this is just the beginning for the 23-year-old Carlos.
“This is just the beginning for Tots [Carlos], I bet,” said Valdez, who also won her first-ever Finals MVP award in the PVL this conference.
Carlos’ stellar season included a 28-point outburst against Petro Gazz in the group phase. She then put up 26-point and 23-point performances in the semifinals to help the team enter the finals.
Aside from Carlos, Valdez also praised long-time teammates Galanza, De Guzman, and Kyla Atienza as well as the emerging tandem of Jeanette Panaga and Celine Domingo for leaving it all out on the floor against the Angels.
Valdez has referred to herself as the ‘ate’ of these talented young bunch. And she is just glad to see them flourish together.
“Jema Galanza, Ced, for everyone, for Jia, also, for Pangs, everyone really contributed, and also Kyla Atienza also they really gave their all here,” said the 28-year-old skipper out of San Juan, Batangas.
“As an ate, medyo tumatanda na, it’s just so nice to see everyone stepping up and performing and taking that responsibility na kaya nila. Alam mo, I can see the growth not only in terms of their plays but also as an individual that’s why siguro nadadala nila inside the court so alam mo yun.”
