The Pocari Sweat franchise’s fortunes shifted immediately when they acquired Michele Gumabao.
Campaigning first in the PSL, the then-Main ‘N Tail Lady Stallions had finished last in two conferences. Tired of losing, team management sought a major rebuild, and it started with Gumabao.
“Sobrang crucial para sa amin na makuha si Michele. If we could get her, alam namin we could establish a winning culture,” said team manager Atty. Eric Ty.
Hardened by her years leading the Ramil De Jesus, championship-or-bust De La Salle University Lady Spikers, Gumabao not only put a face to the franchise, but brought her ruthless leadership style and brash on-court demeanor as well.
In 2015, the club acquired other key pieces in Myla Pablo, Melissa Gohing, Desiree Dadang, and Iris Tolenada, and bannered a new name, the Philips Gold Lady Slammers. The first year of the rebuild brought success — two third-place finishes in the PSL season — no small feat for the budding franchise.
2016, however, brought unprecedented success. They kicked off the year by establishing themselves as the comeback queens of the Shakey’s V-League, coming out of nowhere to take the Open Conference championship.
Then, to end the year, the Lady Warriors capped one of the most dominant seasons in Shakey’s V-League history, toppling all challengers to take the Reinforced Conference throne.
All along, Michele Gumabao has anchored her team in ways not reflected on the stats sheet.
While it took her time to regain her optimal physical condition, Gumabao was always on point as a leader and emotional siphon for the team.
This has always been Gumabao’s role, even in college: She never had flashy numbers that merited individual recognition. But she made her team better and played her best when her team needed her most.
This is evident in the two major individual awards she has won: two Finals MVP trophies.
The first she clinched in the UAAP Season 75 Finals. Just when the Lady Spikers looked vulnerable against the Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles, Gumabao played one of the best offensive games of her life in Game Two to help bring home the championship.
The second came just recently.
Pocari’s skipper routinely contributed double-digit scoring outputs, averaging 13.5 points and nearly four blocks per game. More importantly, Gumabao’s long arms and confidence were key in foiling BOC’s team captain and her perennial rival, Alyssa Valdez. The three-time SVL MVP and scoring dynamo managed just 10 points, on just a shade above 20 percent hitting clip, in the championship-clinching Game Two.
Ever the leader, Gumabao downplayed her impact and her domination of Valdez.
“It was more of just the team. Every time nagkakatapat kami [ni Alyssa], yung teams na kasali ako, kundisyon din. Di ako ang nag-deny, lahat kami. Lahat ng tao sinasabi yun. She worked hard for it, her team worked hard for it, pero at the end of the day, it’s the team that wants it the most, the team that worked and prepared for the championship,” Gumabao declared upon winning the title last Monday.
“Sabi nya sa last interview, di nila masyado pinaghirapan, kulang sa training, and if she said that, I think she knows what they lacked.”
According to the opposite hitter, her teammates are used to her outspokenness and brash playing nature. That’s her leadership style, and her team has even adapted some of her rambunctious antics.
“Yung swag, talagang frustrated ako. Pinapaalala nila sa akin mag-smile. Ayoko talaga yung nandoon ka na, mawawala pa. Kung natalo kami sa fourth set, siguro lalabas talaga yung beast mode to the highest level. Kilala naman ako ng teammates ko. Di naman sila naaapektuhan pag ganito ako maglaro. Natutuwa naman sila at na-eenganyo pag sumisigaw ako. Gets na gets na nila ako,” the 2016 SVL Best Opposite hitter said referring to her team’s struggle late in Game Two.
Although Gumabao has always played with intensity all throughout her career, a lot of fans still boo and hate on her for starting psychological wars on the court.
Her haters, however, still don’t get that discouraging and jeering at her doesn’t work. The 24-year-old thrives under pressure and hostile crowds.
“Di na naman para sa amin ang crowd pero okay lang. We know our supporters and as long as were together, working inside the court, we’re going to win each and every game,” the opposite hitter reflected.
“Basta kalaban namin ang Ateneo or may Atenista sa kalaban naming team, di talaga para sa amin yung crowd, ever since La Salle in our UAAP days. Ako maman as a player natutuwa ako pag malakas yung crowd, kaya siguro lumabas yung college days na attitude ko kasi nagwa-wild na yung crowd. Yung energy ko kasi nakikisabay sa crowd pag-on yung crowd.
“Ako personally, natutuwa ako sa maiingay na venue, doon ako natutuwa at ginaganahan. Kahit di na ‘Go Pocari!’ yung naririnig ko, ok lang. They’re still here to watch and we’re still here to play. At the end of the day, the best way to silence a crowd is to win and that’s what we did a good job today,” she declared
As confetti — and boos from the crowd at the PhilSports Arena — cascaded from the rafters when Gumabao was announced as the Finals MVP, the now two-time SVL champion met her on-lookers with a provocative smile.
“To all my haters, thank you for motivating me. You guys will always be in my heart,” quipped the 2016 SVL Reinforced Conference Finals MVP.
