Tots Carlos and her team, the Creamline Cool Smashers. Photo from PVL Media Bureau

MANILA –If Creamline has an advantage over other teams, it is their championship experience.

And when their backs were against the wall — remember, the Cool Smashers (8-3) nearly faced elimination in the preliminaries as they edged PLDT (also with an 8-3 record) by only a point for a Final Four spot — star spiker Tots Carlos said they turned back to their championship mindset en route to the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference Finals.

The Cool Smashers also absorbed a five-set loss at the hands of their sister team Choco Mucho in the semifinal round.

“Parang doon din kasi pumupunta ‘yung mindset namin everyday na champion mindset. Sabi ni coach [Sherwin Meneses], hindi naman namin control lahat ng situations, so hindi ‘yan magiging perfect or hindi ‘yan laging pabor sa 'min," the three-time league Most Valuable Player (MVP) said after ousting Chery Tiggo in straight sets, 25-16, 25-21, 25-20, in the semis on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.

READ: PVL: Creamline ousts Chery Tiggo, clinches finals berth

"If merong mga times na ‘yung sitwasyon hindi pabor sa 'min, ang magagawa lang naman namin is labanan ‘yung situation," she said further.

Creamline is the PVL's winningest club with seven total titles captured since 2017 and has never fell to a fourth-place finish and beyond.

The Cool Smashers' resiliency has also been a key for them, said Carlos.

READ: PVL: Choco Mucho pushes back Petro Gazz, books Finals showdown with Creamline

"Nakakatuwa kapag nananalo kami pero ‘pag hindi kami nananalo, alam namin [kung] saan kami nagkukulang. Alam namin na ‘yung bawat isa sa 'min babawi, so I think 'yun 'yung maganda sa amin na hindi porket champion kami last season, ine-expect namin na magiging maganda 'yung season namin," Carlos underscored.

The defending champions are now setting their sights to yet another crown in the PVL against the Flying Titans, who snatched the second finals berth Sunday when they won against Petro Gazz, 23-25, 26-24, 25-19, 25-20, at the Big Dome to conclude the double-header.

"Honestly, ako naging maganda yung season namin kasi kahit na natalo kami, nandito kami ngayon sa championship so masaya kami sa mga nangyari. 'Yung process ba na sinasabi namin palagi, ‘yun kasi ‘yung pinakamahalaga eh, ‘yung championship na ‘yung premyo namin," said Carlos.

The Finals starts Thursday at the same Quezon City stadium.

First serve is at 6 p.m.

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