DON’T dare doubt the heart of champions.
Creamline showed the stuff it is made of by advancing to the finals of the Philippine Volleyball League (PVL) for the 11th time and did it without help from three of its brightest stars.
Alyssa Valdez, Tots Carlos, and Jema Galanza were absent either because of national team duties or injuries, but the Cool Smashers lived up to their team name - they were cool and smashing - as they again defied the odds in beating Cignal in the semifinals.
The win followed a five-set victory over the defending champion Petro Gazz in the quarterfinals.
They will face Akari on Monday, which happens to be the league's only undefeated team, and Creamline will be looking to win its ninth championship.
READ: Creamline returns to PVL finals after comeback win over Cignal
In this championship game, expect Michele Gumabao, to again step up for the undermanned squad. She has been with the eight-time champions for six years and she has experienced the team's ups and downs, although, it can be said, that during those years, there were more ups than downs.
From dethroning reigning champion Petro Gazz to completing a five-set fightback over Cignal, Gumabao underscores what lies at the core of Creamline’s ‘heart of a champion’ that sees them through even when the odds are stacked up against them.
Faith.
“Not having our three starters, of course, takes a lot from not only the first six pero sa palitan din namin. As you could see din sa game, sobrang limited din talaga ng mga substitutions namin,” Gumabao told SPIN.ph.
“But natatawid and nagagawan talaga ng paraan because everybody just believes in themselves and believes in the team. ‘Yung pinaka-importante lang is gawin lang talaga namin ‘yung trabaho namin both inside and outside of the court. We’re doing our jobs, we’re focusing on just trying to help each other.”
“Being here in the finals, I know maraming nag-doubt but I think ang importante, hindi talaga namin na-doubt ‘yung sarili namin and we’re believing and we’re really pushing ourselves all the way to the end.
“Nandito na, but the job’s not done. We have to play well on Monday and really close the conference with a win.”
One big, happy Creamline family
The pressure of the bright lights and big stage isn’t new for a team that’s won it all eight times in the last seven years.
But Creamline’s ‘good vibes’ mantra was one that shone through even in the rare, dark days — making the Cool Smashers a real family for Gumabao on and off the court.
“The best part about playing for Creamline is playing for your family. We’re really like one big, happy family. Both inside and outside the court, we love each other and that’s what you really want from a team, from the management and all the way to our staff.
“Talagang nandu’n ‘yung puso, nandu’n ‘yung tiwala and nandu’n talaga ‘yung ‘never give up’ mentality. ‘Yung puso talaga, ‘di mo matatanggal ‘yun.
“I’m just so happy that this team, this family is back in the finals.”
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