Creamline open hitter Tots Carlos celebrates a point against Cignal HD in their 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference match, March 26, 2024 at the PhilSports Arena. PVL Media

MANILA -- Tots Carlos delivered a performance for the ages to help defending champion Creamline avoid yet another shock defeat in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference.

In the last match before the league took a break for the Holy Week, Carlos erupted for a career-high 38 points -- the highest single-game scoring output by a local player in the PVL.

The Cool Smashers needed every last one of them, as Carlos lifted the defending champions to a thrilling 26-28, 22-25, 25-22, 25-21, 16-14 reverse sweep of the Cignal HD Spikers last March 26 at the PhilSports Arena.

After etching her name in the annals of the local volleyball scene, the 26-year-old Carlos earned the PVL Press Corps Player of the Week award for the sixth time in her career.

"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," said Carlos.

"'Yung mga ganitong opportunity masaya lang din talaga ako pero 'yun nga, at the end of the day, mas nakakatuwa kasi panalo 'yung team," she added.

READ: Tots Carlos' career-high propels Creamline past Cignal in thriller

A three-time league MVP, Carlos reset her career-high after exploding for 31 points against Akari earlier in the conference. She also surpassed Sisi Rondina's 33-point output for Choco Mucho in Game 2 of the PVL Second All-Filipino Finals last December -- which the former University of Santo Tomas superstar set against the Cool Smashers.

Carlos also became the second-highest single-game scorer since the league turned professional, behind Akari import Prisilla Rivera who had a 44-point outing against Choco Mucho in the 2022 Reinforced Conference.

READ: Tots Carlos shines as Creamline survives Akari's scare 

She edged out her teammate Kyle Negrito, as well as Petro Gazz's Brooke Van Sickle, and Chery Tiggo's Alina Bicar for the weekly award deliberated upon by print and online scribes covering the league, which is also streamed live on www.pvl.ph.

But Carlos was also quick to stress that she was more concerned about their results rather than her own personal achievements.

READ: Tots Carlos downplays career-game, credits teammates for 38-point outing

"'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," Carlos said.

"Ayaw naming matalo so wala namang special or anything sa mga ginawa namin. It's just that we really played our hearts out and 'yun, nakakatuwa kasi sila coach kahit na two sets behind kami wala silang ever sinabi na makaka-pressure sa amin. Actually, siya pa nga 'yung kumakalma samin na 'maglaro lang kayo, mag-enjoy lang kayo.'"

Through the heroics of Carlos, the Cool Smashers have regained their spot atop the standings with a 6-1 record, as they seek to kick their title-retention drive into higher gear in the final stretch of the preliminaries.

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