THERE might have been doubts surrounding Creamline, especially with their veterans starting to get up there in age but it continued to prove that winning a PVL still goes through them.
With Michele Gumabao showing no signs of slow-down, it's hard to picture a Creamline decline anytime soon.
Gumabao, 32, erupted for 22 points and 15 digs in her first match as the reigning MVP of a PVL tournament.
Once on the verge of an early 0-2 hole in the Invitationals, Gumabao went full throttle for the Cool Smashers and even fired five clutch attacks in the fifth-set tiebreak.
At that point, with Creamline backed against the wall, it’s all about hitting every ball that comes her way with the sheer power she has left on her tank.
“Kapag sinabi ni coach She [Meneses] na palo lang, o sige palo lang. Nasa utak ko lang talaga ‘pag may bola, palo lang talaga. Hindi ko na iniisip kung saan,” said Gumabao.
“Kapag nakita ko na hangga’t may power pa, sinasabi ni coach na ‘o wala pa tayong pagod, sige, palo lang.’
“Every time na mabigyan ng opportunity na nandun talaga yung endurance namin and power sa game, kahit fifth set pa yan, ‘di kami pwede magpakita ng pagod.”
It also became a matter of setting the pace and not dancing to the tune of their rivals.
“Hindi talaga kami pwede sumabay sa galaw ng kalaban namin. Yun yung naging pace namin kanina. Nawawala man kami sa sarili naming pace ng laro, kailangan namin ma-overcome pa rin yun.”
MG, Creamline's golden edge
While they missed out on a title in the recent On Tour, Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses knows they have an unparalleled advantage in the 10-day tournament.
“Yung sa On Tour kasi, na-sweep din kami nung first round, then nung elimination, nakabawi kami,” Meneses said.
“Ibang-iba na ‘yung mga games. Talagang magkakakilala na and sa tingin ko, ‘yung naging advantage namin is yung experience ng team.
“Yun yung pinaka-malaking advantage this Invitationals lalo na’t team total effort ngayon kahit na five sets.”
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