PVL: Undrafted Tots Carlos still happy for opportunity to test waters in Korean volleyball
Creamline superstar Tots Carlos. Photo from PVL Media Bureau
MANILA – After not getting picked in the recent 2024 Korean Volleyball (KOVO) Women’s Asian Quota Draft, Creamline superstar Tots Carlos was just happy for the opportunity to test the waters in the Korean volleyball scene.
Carlos’ international volleyball job had to wait further as she and Petro Gazz’s MJ Phillips and Chery Tiggo’s Mylene Paat went undrafted in the KOVO draft held Wednesday in South Korea.
“It was a fun experience lalo na’t nakita ko kung paano ‘yung program nila sa volleyball sa ibang bansa. Nakita ko rin ‘yung mga iba-ibang players na kasama ko and may mga natutunan din naman ako,” the former Universiy of the Philippines (UP) standout said on Thursday after drubbing Petro Gazz, 27-25, 23-25, 27-25, 26-24, in the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference semifinals at the PhilSports Arena.
“Parang core memory ko lang talaga is really how organized the Koreans in their volleyball league are and how they really take care of their foreign players,” Ms. Volleyball went on.
Carlos said she just played her volleyball in the tryouts and expressed gratitude to her team’s management, coaches, and teammates.
“I just played my volleyball and wala rin naman akong ibang ine-expect. Tall players, they’re very tall. Ako, honestly, satisfied ako sa naging performance ko so masaya ako na na-experience ko ‘yung ganung opportunity. Talagang nagpapasalamat ako sa mga boss namin at saka kina Coach [Sherwin Meneses], sa teammates ko na talagang pinayagan ako,” she said.
Creamline missed her services in their Choco Mucho semis match, where they absorbed a 13-25, 19-25, 25-21, 25-20, 18-16 defeat.
But she made it on time on Thursday to reinforce the defending champions and kept their title defense alive as she tallied 21 points for the Creamline firepower.
“[K]ahit hindi naman sabihin nila coach, they expect me to really perform and pagbalik dito na talagang maglaro kasi nga what I did was a personal matter, personal decision ko siya. I’m grateful na pinayagan ako but siyempre, trabaho pa rin pagbalik sa Pilipinas. Ako, honestly, thank you rin kina coach kasi pinalaro ako kahit kakabalik ko lang.”
The 25-year-old spiker said she’s not closing doors on opportunities overseas.
“Yeah, if meron namang chances. Sabi ko nga at the start of this year, if ever meron man akong opportunity sa kahit ano (na overseas league), iga-grab ko talaga.”
Creamline (1-1) will face Chery Tiggo (0-2) next in the PVL semis on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
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