After a hard-fought five-set loss against PLDT to open the tournament, Creamline – sans three of its top stars – went on a red-hot four-game winning streak to close out the first round of the 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference.
The shorthanded Cool Smashers continued to soldier on, securing the top spot in Pool A with a 4-1 record despite missing the services of Tots Carlos (injury), Alyssa Valdez (injury), and Jema Galanza (Alas Pilipinas).
Michele Gumabao was the one who took on the leadership role for the reigning All-Filipino Conference champions. And she said that the team’s discipline and perseverance are what kept them afloat during this challenging time.
“Siguro number one ‘yung tiyaga and disiplina talaga namin. So we start in practice na kahit anong results ng game, kailangan kami hard working, kailangan alam namin ‘yung trabaho namin, ‘yung kailangan naming gawin and do our best,” said the 31-year-old opposite hitter from San Mateo, California.
She added, “Siguro ‘yung tiwala na lang din namin, ‘yung tiwala namin kay God, sa coaches namin, the trust that we have for our teammates, sa management namin.”
Gumabao went on to talk about how the team encouraged each other and kept their motivation up.
“As a family talaga kami naglalaro lagi, so nandun talaga ‘yun and hindi mawawala. And si coach naman, never niya kaming pinapagalitan naman. Pero ‘yung kunwari matalo, manalo, lagi lang sasabihin ni coach na nangyayari talaga ‘yan sa game, it’s part of the game,” she continued.
“Kung paano na lang talaga kami makakabawi sa practice and sa susunod naming mga laban. We’re thankful na lang din na syempre. hindi lahat nabibigyan ng opportunity makalaro dito sa pros, so we take advantage talaga every chance we get.”
(C) PVL Images
Creamline once again leaned on the troika of Gumabao, Bernadeth Pons, and import Erica Staunton as they thwarted Nxled in straight sets, 25-18, 25-18, 25-20, to close out the first round with a bang on Thursday at the Philsports Arena.
Pons had an all-around performance with 13 points, 14 excellent digs, and eight excellent receptions. Meanwhile, the American reinforcement chipped in 13 markers as well.
Gumabao, on the other hand, scored 12 in the one-hour, 31-minute victory.
“Nabanggit nga ni coach na ‘yung first six namin ngayon ang dami nga talagang nagbago, ang daming changes. Kapaan pa talaga pero nandun naman ‘yung tiwala para sa bawat isa sa team,” said the 10-time champion in Sports Vision-organized leagues.
“Kahit naman sinong ipasok even from our bench, like ‘yung pinakita kanina ng iba naming teammates is kailangan ready lang talaga kami. So keep on improving lang kami each and every game. Tinatiyaga naman talaga namin, uumpisahan namin sa practice.”
