Tots Carlos finally realized one of her goals on Saturday evening as she made her debut for the Philippine women’s national volleyball team in the PNVF Invitational Challenge against Thailand.
And she hopes that she gets more chances to do so in the future.
“Siyempre super nakaka-proud and I’ve been dreaming to play for the team. I hope na magkaroon pa ng chance in the next time,” said the native of Lubao, Pampanga.
Against the reigning SEA Games gold medalists, Carlos came off the bench and produced two points and a block for the Filipina spikers. Though it came in a straight-set loss, the 5-foot-9 opposite spiker was just glad to get her feet wet and have the opportunity to match up against more experienced opponents at an international level.
After debuting for the national team, she then heaped praise on the system that Thailand has established which allowed them to play as dominantly as they did against the Philippines.
“I just really admire the system that they have and iba talaga ‘yung may sistema,” she shared.
“Makikita mo na progressive talaga siya. Like right now, andami nang pumasok na mga bata so wala lang, sobrang nakakatuwa lang na they have a good system.”
Carlos, together with Aduke Ogunsanya, was among the latest additions to the national team after a career year with Creamline.
The 23-year-old out of University of the Philippines was recently earned the Most Valuable Player and the Best Opposite Spiker honors while also leading her team to its first professional title in the 2022 PVL Open Conference.
Now playing at a different stage, Carlos claimed that having a foreign coach — similar to her collegiate mentor Godfrey Okumu — has helped her adjust better as she settles in with the women’s national volleyball team. In fact, her debut performance also earned the approval of head coach Jorge Souza de Brito after their game on Saturday.
“Okay naman siya, actually medyo same lang kay coach [Godfrey] Okumu eh. So parang medyo familiar naman and naka-adjust naman agad ako,” she shared.
“Siyempre masarap pakinggan from the coaches na sinabi na maganda ‘yung nilaro. But also, di naman ‘yan nagagawa ng ako lang, so with the help of my teammates I was able to at least strive for it.”
With her debut game now in the books, Carlos reassured that she will always be ready to suit up for flag and country whenever an opportunity calls for her services in the future.
“So much open eh kasi ‘yung mga ganyang opportunity minsan lang ‘yan dumadating,” she claimed.
“So hangga’t kaya naman and wala namang mga conflicts, for sure I’ll go.”
Along with that, Carlos will also look to cherish the experience as much as possible as the Philippines go up against another strong team in Japan that currently holds an immaculate 4-0 card in the VNL.
“Siyempre the experience and sobrang grateful lang talaga ako sa opportunity na may mga ganito. So yun, I guess we just have to work on our game and be prepared for tomorrow.”
