Michele Gumabao wasted no time after her wedding, returning to practice the very next day and helping Creamline cruise to a dominant straight-set victory over Nxled just two days later in the 2025 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference qualifying round.
Gumabao, who married her long-time partner Aldo Panlilio last Tuesday, played a key role in the Cool Smashers’ 25-18, 25-17, 25-17 win over the Chameleons to secure a spot in the quarterfinals.
“Well, nakakapagod talaga. ‘Di ko naman ide-deny ‘yun, may days talaga na alam naman ng mga teammates ko ‘yun na minsan lutang din ako sa practice. I’m sure na nakikita rin ni coach ‘yun, may days na walang wala talaga,” she said after scoring seven points in the win.
The reigning Invitational Conference MVP expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the management, coaching staff, and her teammates for their unwavering support — from her wedding preparations all the way to the big day itself.
Gumabao also admitted that she missed several practices, but head coach Sherwin Meneses gladly gave her the time off to focus on her wedding preparations.
(C) PVL Images
“Thankful lang kasi naiintindihan din nila kasi ‘yun nga, maaga ‘yung practice namin and may days din na wala talaga akong tulog. Naiintindihan naman din nila. As long as nandun ako, sinasabi ko naman kay coach, basta nandun didn talaga ako,” said Gumabao.
“Yun, thankful ako kasi may times na absent ako, nagli-leave ako, pumayag si coach so understanding talaga silang lahat. Basta sabi ko basta nasa practice ako, ibibigay ko talaga ‘yung best ko at pati sa game,” she added.
The players even organized a sweet surprise for Gumabao after her wedding, wearing customized shirts to celebrate her special milestone as a newlywed.
“Honestly di ko talaga ine-expect yung day na yun na sinurprise nila ko, kaya feeling ko sobrang naiyak ako kasi nakaka-overwhelm lahat ng planning, yung schedule, talagang minsan… Alam nila yun na pagod na pagod na talaga ko,” said the former La Salle star.
“Kahit minsan sinasabi nila sa’kin na kahit ‘di ka na mag-practice or ‘di ka na pumunta, sinasabi naman ni coach na kahit wag ka muna pumunta’.”
After their Catholic rites wedding, Gumabao shared that they will also hold a Christian ceremony in April — a decision the couple made to honor both their faiths, as Gumabao is a Christian while Panlilio is Catholic.
For now, the 10-time PVL champion turns her full focus to securing their fifth consecutive title. And Gumabao is more than eager to make up for the time she missed with the team.
“Siguro mindset lang. Every time naman na nasa court ako binibigay ko yung best ko para sa team. ‘Pag nasa labas, binibigay ko rin ‘yung best ko kapag nasa labas so kung nasaan lang talaga ako at the moment, binibigay ko lang din talaga ‘yung best ko and ‘yung team naka-support sila talaga.”
