Michele Gumabao finally added a club championship to her massive trophy collection after leading the Pocari Sweat Lady Warriors to Shakey’s V-League Open Conference Title last Monday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
The Lady Warriors pulled themselves out of the clutches of defeat against the Air Force Jet Spikers. Pocari blew a huge Game One lead and dropped in five sets. They picked themselves up and valiantly took the next two matches in convincing fashion to bag the championship.
Pocari took the hard road all the way to the title. They also slipped behind in the semifinals against the star-studded Bali Pure Water Defenders only to come roaring back to take the series.
Although she would prefer to win quickly and with less drama, Gumabao was glad to see her team respond under extreme pressure. Gumabao had 12 points in the title-clinching match but the multi-awarded Best Blocker was infectiously fierce.
“I think ang number one na problema ng team namin is we want the easy way out.”
“We always wanted three-set game, we always wanted two out of three win, but wala, hindi talaga siya meant to be para sa amin,” the team captain said.
“We were meant to go through the process, we were meant to go through the hardships, because that will make us stronger and that will make everything better in the end so doon naman ako natutuwa dahil nakakabalik naman kami.”
Through their hardships, Pocari learned how to deal with losses and respond to adversity. 
“At first kasi, ang sinabi ko pa naalala ko was, ‘some of my teammates really don’t know how to process a loss.’ Kasi hindi pa mature sa loob ng court, bata pa. Pero yun naman din ang natutunan ng mga teammates ko, and ako personally – how to get back after a loss, how to, paano mo totohanin yung pagbawi.”
“Even after the point, sasabihin nila na ‘Ate michele, babawi ako.’ Naniniwala ako sa kanila na babawi sila and last season when we were in the PSL, it was a heartbreaking loss, and this season, it was a win that erased everything else,” the former De La Salle Lady Spiker said.
The 23 year old then shared the struggles she and long-time teammate Melissa Gohing went through before reaching this point.
“She’s my best friend, she’s my love. We were meant to go places. It may not be championships, but we were meant to be together.”
Years after their last championship, the two best friends can say once more that they are once-again champions.
