Michele Gumabao and the Creamline Cool Smashers have gone through it all this 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference—and yet they remain on top, winning a 9th PVL crown.
Make that nine total PVL titles for the Creamline Cool Smashers after capturing their second crown in the Reinforced Conference.
After all their ups and downs in the import-spiced tournament, the Cool Smashers ultimately reigned supreme after downing the Akari Chargers in the Finals in straight sets, 25-15, 25-23, 25-17, at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City on Wednesday, September 4.
Though the scoreline suggested another dominant win for Creamline, Michele Gumabao believed otherwise, especially after all the team has gone through in the conference.
“Siguro kahit nakikita nila na three sets lang ‘yung Finals, hindi namin matatanggal the whole story of the whole season. The team has been through so many challenges, ‘yung semis na muntikan na, ‘yung mga ibang games din na talagang super grabe ‘yung kapit,” Gumabao said during the post-championship press conference.
While her teammate Alyssa Valdez said their 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference title victory earlier this year was the hardest yet, Gumabao believes this conference topped that.
“Mahirap siguro as compared to last season,” said Gumabao. “Mas mahirap siguro ‘yung kabuuan na pinagdaaan talaga ng team this season kasi ang dami din talagang nawala.”
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The Reinforced Conference has proven to be the white whale for the Cool Smashers, with their last title in the conference coming all the way back in 2018.
But even without superstars such as Valdez, Jema Galanza, and Tots Carlos, Creamline proved why they are indeed the winningest team in the PVL.
“Super happy kasi lagi talaga ‘yung Reinforced Conference parang sinasabi nila doon kami nagstru-struggle pero this time around talagang the whole team really proved na despite having the youngest import in the league, we still were able to work as a team,” said Gumabao.
“Napakita namin na Creamline is really teamwork talaga, hindi na ‘yung isang taong gumagalaw. Talaga ‘yung system talaga namin, that’s what I’m really happy naman that ‘yung system namin na-apply namin each and every game and kita naman ‘yung results buong season,” she added.
Winning another PVL title, the 32-year-old outside hitter couldn’t help but be thankful for overcoming all the challenges that came their way.
“Kahit nung umpisa palang kita naman, we started this season with a loss agad-agad but andun talaga ‘yung kapit and andun ‘yung tiwala talaga ni coach [Sherwin Meneses] samin,” said Gumabao.
“‘Yun ‘yung hindi nawala ever since kahit nag-struggle kami, kahit hindi namin mapakita ‘yung best namin in that game, andun ‘yung tiwala ng mga coaches namin and ‘yung training andun ‘yung effort ng bawat isa,” she added.