Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses shared why Tots Carlos and Bea de Leon were not included in the team's roster for the 2025 AVC Women’s Champions League.
As Creamline’s roster for the 2025 AVC Women’s Champions League was revealed, two big names were seemingly left off the list — Tots Carlos and Bea De Leon.
Despite the absences, the Cool Smashers showed poise in their opening match, sweeping Jordan’s Al Naser Club, 29-27, 25-20, 25-19, at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig on Sunday, April 20.
Head coach Sherwin Meneses later clarified that both Carlos and De Leon are nursing minor injuries, which led the team to make the tough but necessary decision to let them sit out the international tournament.
"Yung about kay Bea and Tots, may minor injury kasi sila, so one week lang yung league so dapat 100 percent yung maglalaro. Ire-represent yung Philippines, talagang dapat 100 percent siya," Meneses explained during the post-game press conference.
"Yung sa dalawa lang, yung minor injury nila, medyo hindi sila makakaabot sa AVC."
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The Cool Smashers are also without seasoned libero Denden Lazaro-Revilla, paving the way for rookie Aleiah Torres to make her mark for the team.
Meneses also stressed the need for the team to stay laser-focused, especially with tougher opponents ahead, including a match against the towering Kazakhstan squad.
"Alam naman natin yung Kazakhstan, talagang napaka-tatangkad nila," Meneses said, highlighting the need for strategy and adjustments. "I think we have training tomorrow, so pag-aaralan muna naming mabuti yung Kazakhstan.”
“‘Yung Jordan talaga medyo hindi namin na-scout. Ngayon, makakapag-focus kami sa Kazakhstan."
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Creamline will go for win no. 2 against Kazakhstan’s Zhetysu VC Monday at 7:00 p.m.