Creamline could not defend its Invitational Conference throne, absorbing a five-set loss against Kurashiki in the Final.
Despite going home without their second consecutive Invitational chip and seventh overall PVL tiara, Tots Carlos and the Cool Smashers left Pasig filled with joy and no regrets as they played their hearts out against the Ablaze.
“Personally, I’m really happy kasi I’m sure nakita nyo naman gaano kadikit yung game. Lahat ng teammates ko talaga ginawa yung role at ginawa yung best. No regrets talaga.
“We really played our hearts out. We really enjoyed the game. We are really happy na napunta kami sa ganoong situation kasi for sure mapapatatag pa yung puso ng team,” said Carlos, who scored 27 points to go along with 20 receptions and 10 digs in the loss.
The three-time PVL MVP received ample support from her Creamline teammates, led by Ced Domingo’s 20 points on game-highs of five blocks and two aces, while Jema Galanza chipped in 18 points built on 16 attacks.
Carlos also commended the performance of Best Outside Spiker Asaka Tamaru, who paced the Ablaze’s unbeaten run in the Invitational Conference while also being able to hand the two lone losses of the Cool Smashers.
Tamaru nailed the championship-winning point off her lone service ace of the match en route to her game-high figures of 29 points on 28 attacks, 13 digs, and 12 receptions.
“She’s so good. Ever since we watched their game, siya talaga yung nangibabaw sa team nila. Really happy for her na yung lahat ng hardwork niya nagbunga talaga nang maganda. Syempre isipin mo foreign team, everyday games nila… Super happy kami sa kanila na naka-adjust sila ng ganoong kabilis as environment,” shared Carlos after Creamline’s 25-19, 23-25, 19-25, 25-20, 15-13 loss to Kurashiki, last Sunday evening at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
The 25-year-old opposite spiker expected nothing less from the third-division Japanese team and was dubbed one of the most defensive-minded, diligent, and disciplined teams in the league.
After Creamline’s first-set win over Kurashiki, the Japan-based squad’s style of play paid off in the second and third sets to grab an advantageous 2-1 set lead over the winningest PVL club.
“Before kami pumunta ng Finals, yun ang reminder namin na Japan yan. Kahit anong division pa yan, organized yan, masipag yan, magaling yan.
“Yun yung in-expect namin talaga sa kanila so kailangan namin gumawa ng way para mapigilan sila. They really played well. Makikita mo rin na sobrang sipag nila sa court,” added Carlos. (Ernest Martin Tuazon)
