The Creamline Cool Smashers are taking extra precaution on 3-time PVL MVP Tots Carlos after making her return in the 2024-25 All-Filipino Conference.
Tots Carlos was seen wearing street clothes once more in the Creamline Cool Smashers’ match versus the Choco Mucho Flying Titans on Tuesday, December 3.
The three-time PVL Conference MVP recently made her return in the Cool Smashers’ lineup, seeing action in the previous game against the Akari Chargers in Candon, Ilocos Sur last November 23.
But even without Carlos, Creamline went to work and downed Choco Mucho in four sets, 25-22, 25-20, 30-32, 25-20, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
What could have been the reason for the 26-year-old superstar spiker to sit out the big rivalry match?
After the game, head coach Sherwin Meneses had a simple explanation.
“Siyempre mahaba naman kasi yung conference, so siyempre ‘yung safety ng players talaga ‘yung inuuna namin kasi mas maganda kung sa dulo mas malakas kami. Pero, totally healthy naman talaga si Tots,” Meneses said during the post-game press conference.
Carlos is coming off a knee injury which forced her to miss the Cool Smashers’ Grand Slam completion during the 2024 Reinforced and Invitational Conferences.
With a long conference ahead, Creamline is taking all the necessary precautions to make sure Carlos will be ready come crunch time.
“Maraming mangyayaring ganyan kasi sobrang marami kaming [players sa] roster so tinitignan lang namin kung sino yung pwedeng maglaro ngayon, sino yung maglalaro next game. Pero, I think sa ibang mga games nandiyan naman si Tots,” said Meneses.
[ALSO READ: Returning Tots Carlos not rushing to get back to MVP form for Creamline]
Carlos will have a chance to suit up in the Cool Smashers’ final game of 2024, which will be against the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles on December 12 at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.