Neophyte club team Cocolife Asset Managers just made their PSL Invitational 2017 debut Saturday afternoon, but as expected of newly-formed teams, winning openers is not something that comes with ease.
The Asset Managers absorbed a four-set loss to the more seasoned Generika-Ayala Lifesavers, 25-20, 25-15, 21-25, ,25-16 in the volleyfest’s opening salvo at the FilOil Flying V Center in San Juan.
Cocolife have a valid reason to be down after the loss, but team captain Michele Gumabao thinks otherwise. For her, their spoiled debut not only helped them see the facets they have to work on, but also served as their gauge as they tread along the competition.
“Honestly, we weren’t expecting something extraordinary about today’s game. We just wanted to see where we are,” said the 24-year-old outside hitter, who finished with eight markers on seven attacks.
“This game will be our gauge, our benchmark. So at least now alam namin kung ano yung mga kailangan namin i-work on, kailangan namin i-focus sa training, because, wala, hindi pa talaga kami magkaka-kilala lahat. So yun yung challenge for us, and dito namin nalaman in today’s game.”
Aside from Cocolife’s debut, Saturday also marked Gumabao’s return to PSL after a one-year stint in the V-League, having suited up for the Pocari Sweat Lady Warriors who won the 2016 Open and Reinforced Conference titles.
Now that she has returned in the PSL, Gumabao sees it as a challenge for her once more.
“A challenge for me, siyempre, kasi bagong kalaban, tagal ko rin silang ‘di nakita, new teams,” Gumabao shared. “Pero for me kasi wherever I play, sino kasama or sino kalaban, I just make it a point na ako mismo prepared personally.
“I still have a long way to go,” admitted the PVL Reinforced Finals MVP.
Now that Cocolife’s first game is in the books, the team’s focus now goes to their next five games in the six-team contest. And Gumabao believes that her side can match up squarely with the other squads as the tilt goes on.
“No team is unbeatable. No team is stronger than the other. I always believe na ‘pag masama gising mo, masama gising mo. ‘Pag maganda gising mo, maganda gising mo.
“And each team here, paghahandaan namin mabuti equally and with the same focus,” Gumabao vowed.
