In a pulsating opening match of the 2024 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference, the defending champions Creamline Cool Smashers narrowly secured victory against a resilient Farm Fresh squad, extending their winning streak to 16 games.
Tots Carlos, one of the standout performers for the Cool Smashers, acknowledged the relentless effort put forth by Farm Fresh, praising their solid defense and effective attacking strategies.
"Farm Fresh really did a great job. They were defending well, they were attacking well. They did combinations, they did fast plays," remarked Carlos after the hard-fought win last Saturday.
The encounter reached its peak in the opening set, where Creamline held a 24-22 lead, only for Farm Fresh to mount a surprising comeback, eventually stealing the set with an Alyssa Bertolano ace after 45 minutes of intense action.
Despite the setback in the first set, Creamline regained control in the subsequent frames, securing a 34-36, 25-23, 25-22, 25-15 victory. Carlos, reflecting on their performance, pointed out the need to address errors, emphasizing the importance of mastering the basics and maintaining control in various aspects of the game.
"On our side naman, we had a lot of errors like in the first set I think we had 11. In the second, we had 10, so back to basics pa rin starting with the pass kasi shaky yung pass namin nung una," Carlos explained.
Coach's reminders on maintaining control across different skills – from passing to spiking and even emotions – resonated with Carlos. She stressed the team's commitment to improvement, acknowledging the importance of handling situations more effectively to prevent similar challenges in future matches.
While Carlos acknowledged Farm Fresh's defensive prowess, she highlighted the necessity for Creamline to refine their basics and adjust swiftly to different game situations.
Despite the victory, the Cool Smashers recognize the need for continuous improvement as they navigate the All-Filipino Conference.
