Michele Gumabao and Bernadeth Pons provided Creamline with a much-needed boost on Thursday night.
The two made crucial contributions off the bench to help the defending champions fend off Choco Mucho in Game 1 of the 2024 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference finals.
After losing the opener, the Cool Smashers faced slow starts in the next three frames. However, they managed to come back in the latter stages, securing a four-set, 24-26, 25-20, 25-21, 25-16 win over the Flying Titans at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Gumabao and Pons shared the same goal heading into the match: to provide energy and ‘good vibes’ on the court whenever called upon.
And they did just that.
Pons scored eight points off the bench, with Gumabao adding seven markers to give Creamline a significant boost.
“Nung pinasok kami kanina, sabi lang talaga namin kailangan namin magtrabaho, magbigay ng energy. Talagang tiwala lang, tiwala lang kami kay God, kay coach sa desisyon niya. Tiwala lang kami sa kasama namin, sa teammates namin,” said Gumabao.
“Talagang nag-enjoy lang talaga kami sa loob. Yung good vibes ng Creamline, yun, kailangan lang namin ma-maintain yun all throughout the game.”
The former Far Eastern University standout credited head coach Sherwin Meneses for helping them prepare mentally, ensuring they were always ready to provide a spark off the bench.
(C) Joaqui Flores/PVL
“Ayun, naka-mindset lang din talaga kami lahat, ni-ready na kami ni Coach (Sherwin Meneses) mentally na lahat – hindi lang yung nasa loob, dapat pati rin yung nasa labas, ready anytime.
“So yun, naka-mindset kami na every time na papasok kami, talagang tutulong talaga lahat and magco-contribute,” said Pons..
With the Cool Smashers on the cusp of securing their fourth consecutive All-Filipino Conference title, Gumabao and Pons vowed to provide the same intensity in Game 2 in hopes of helping their team close out the gutsy Choco Mucho.
“Nandoon talaga yung pressure, lagi nga naming jino-joke si coach na ‘Coach, ipasok mo naman kami kapag lamang’ pero andon talaga yung pressure,” said Gumabao.
“Pero andon yung tiwala ni coach sa amin and yun yung magpu-push talaga sa’yo na gawin mo yung trabaho mo, gawin mo yung best mo.”
