Refusing to suffer another heartbreak in the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference, Tots Carlos delivered a performance to remember as the Creamline Cool Smashers completed a come-from-behind victory over the Cignal HD Spikers.
Tots Carlos was on a mission on Tuesday night.
With the Creamline Cool Smashers teetering on the brink of defeat, the three-time PVL MVP strapped the squad on her back, clawing back from a two-set hole to overturn the Cignal HD Spikers in a five-set thriller in the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
As the dust settled, Carlos finished with a career-high 38 points built on 35 attacks and three blocks, eclipsing her 31-point outburst against Akari several weeks ago.
This set the record for the most points scored by a local in a match, surpassing the 33-point pro record of Sisi Rondina in Choco Mucho's Game Two defeat versus Creamline last December and the 37-point tally by Alyssa Valdez when the league was yet to turn professional.
Carlos also became the second highest single-game scorer since the league turned pro behind Akari import Prisilla Rivera, who tallied 44 points in a win over Choco Mucho in the 2022 Reinforced Conference.
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For the 25-year-old wing spiker, she simply did not want Creamline to lose.
"'Yung ayaw naming matalo kasi naranasan na namin 'yung ganung scenario before. Hindi ko lang matandaan kung sinong kalaban namin pero palagi 'yun eh, tumatakbo sa isip ko," Carlos said.
The Cool Smashers last suffered a crushing, straight-set loss at the hands of the Chery Tiggo Crossovers that snapped their 19-game winning streak less than two weeks ago.
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Refusing to let Creamline experience another heartbreak, Carlos rose to the occassion.
The former UP Fighting Maroon nailed one clutch hit after another in a personal 4-0 run that flipped a 11-14 deficit into a 15-14 edge, pushing the Cool Smashers ahead of the HD Spikers. Jeannette Panaga then blocked Ces Molina in the final sequence, completing the stunning reverse sweep.
"Siyempre grateful ako na merong mga ganitong opportunity. Pero 'yun nga, paulit ulit kami na kahit sino pang maka-38 points, kahit sino pang maka-55 points, walang prolema basta nanalo 'yung team so wala kami talagang problema kasi 'yun nga, number one priority talaga namin 'yung team," Carlos shared.
Carlos also said that her record-setting performance was a byproduct of Creamline's collective effort and desire to win.
"Siyempre ayaw naming matalo, so wala namang special or anything sa mga ginawa namin today. It’s just that we really played our hearts out," she stated.
"'Yung 38 points ‘di naman ‘yun personal points eh, team points 'yun. So kahit ilang points pa 'yung makuha namin individually very happy kami kasi it’s really for the team, lagi namang nauuna 'yung team."
Kyle Negrito also registered 35 excellent sets in that win, while Jema Galanza had 30 excellent digs, along with 14 points and 11 excellent receptions.
With the crucial victory, the Cool Smashers have regained their spot atop the standings with a 6-1 record.
"'Yun, 'yung mga ganitong opportunity masaya lang din talaga ako pero 'yun nga, at the end of the day, mas nakakatuwa kasi panalo 'yung team," Carlos gushed.