Michele Gumabao reveals competitive edge behind Creamline’s 19 straight podium streak

Creamline has long been known as the “good vibes” team of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL), but behind the smiles and lighthearted image lies a competitive fire that has powered the Cool Smashers to 19 straight podium finishes.

Michele Gumabao, one of the team’s cornerstones, admitted that Creamline’s rise into the most decorated club in local volleyball has not been without its share of heated moments.

“Sobrang competitive namin, as in. Happy-happy kami sa court pero kung makikita niyo kami sa training, nag-aaway-away din kami minsan sa sobrang competitive namin and sa sobrang hardworking talaga ng bawat isa,” Gumabao told SPIN.ph after leading Creamline to bronze with 17 points against Chery Tiggo.

“Our practices aren’t always happy. Kailangan talagang nakikitaan pa rin namin yung bawat isa na gusto namin manalo. Feeling ko, yun yung mga hindi nakikita ng mga tao na serious side namin sa practice na talagang 100 percent kami.”

The Cool Smashers’ sustained success over the last eight years — which includes 10 PVL titles — has been defined not only by championship victories but also by how they handled adversity and even internal rivalries. From collegiate rivals turned teammates like Alyssa Valdez, Jema Galanza, and Tots Carlos, Creamline has transformed its mix of personalities into a unified powerhouse.

For Gumabao, the team’s ability to hold each other to high standards while staying united has made her stronger as both a player and a person in her seven years with the franchise.

Todo ang Good Vibes dahil the Creamline Cool Smashers celebrates their 19th Straight Podium Finish!

Bilib na bilib kami sa inyo mga idol! Congratulations at salamat ng marami sa dala niyong good vibes palagi! #CreamlineCoolSmashers #CreamlineCreamyIceCream pic.twitter.com/Odrf5QvMxr

— Creamline Cool Smashers (@CoolSmashers) September 1, 2025

“What I’m most thankful for sa team namin is the love that the team has. Grabe talaga yung pagmamahal ng bawat isa, from the management, from our coaches, to all the players, to our family outside of the court,” she said.

“Yung love and yung sacrifice, makikita mo talaga every single day na pumapasok kami ng practice na 100 percent talaga lahat. Yung kahit pagod ka na, wala kang tulog, kahit talo, andun yung competitiveness ng bawat isa.

“It’s because love talaga namin, di lang yung ginagawa namin, pero yung bawat isa talaga. Yun talaga yung nagki-keep sa’min together, na hindi kami bibitaw.”

Even with the occasional tension in training, Gumabao stressed that what ultimately binds Creamline is a culture of love and trust — the same spirit that has carried them through triumphs and setbacks alike.

And true to the brand they’ve built since day one, she adds: “good vibes lang kami and more love.”

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