“There are no excuses for us anymore”: Michele Gumabao confident in full-strength Creamline squad

The Creamline Cool Smashers, one of the Premier Volleyball League’s (PVL) most dominant teams, are determined to bounce back after a disappointing 2025 calendar year — their first season since 2018 without a single conference championship.

Fresh off a historic Grand Slam in 2024, where Creamline captured all three titles — the All-Filipino, Invitational, and Reinforced Conferences — the team faced an unexpected setback last year, falling short of their lofty standards. Despite the challenges, star opposite hitter Michele Gumabao remains confident that Creamline can reclaim its winning ways in the ongoing All-Filipino Conference, pointing to the return of a fully-fit roster as a major boost.

“Very motivated ang Creamline talaga. I think mas naging focused kami on the details. Mas naging mindful kami of all our mistakes and our errors and our shortcomings, so mas focused, I would say, mas determined,” Gumabao said during a media interaction.

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The veteran player emphasized that the team is entering this season with a renewed sense of purpose and accountability.

“There are no excuses for us anymore this year. Kompleto kami, we are healthy, and we wanna play our best, so looking forward talaga to this season if makamit namin ‘yung mga goals namin,” she added.

“THERE ARE NO EXCUSES FOR US ANYMORE THIS YEAR.” 🍦🩷

After a subpar 2025 PVL season, Michele Gumabao and the rest of the Creamline Cool Smashers are eager to regain the throne in the All-Filipino Conference.#PVL2026https://t.co/C6Qq9t1l7E

— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) February 4, 2026

One of the biggest factors in Creamline’s renewed optimism is the return of key players. The team will be at full strength this conference, welcoming back Alas Pilipinas captain Jia De Guzman, who returns after a three-year absence, and Bernadeth Pons, fresh from her stint with the Alas Pilipinas beach volleyball squad. Gumabao highlighted the significance of having a complete, healthy roster for the first time in a long while.

“Sana tuloy-tuloy ‘yung pagiging healthy ng team. Ang dami naming teammates na babalik — may galing abroad, may galing national team, may galing injury. Matagal na rin na hindi kami naging kompleto sabay-sabay na conditioned. Even our first six, parang hindi pa rin talaga naglalaro for quite a while,” she said.

The 33-year-old star stressed that while Creamline boasts experience and talent, they will not take anything for granted on the court. Maintaining performance and conditioning remains a priority as the team aims to regain its championship form.

“Lagi namang mataas ang expectations namin for each other. We always aim to reach the end, but we still need to maintain performance and conditioning,” Gumabao concluded.

Creamline is set to open their All-Filipino Conference campaign on Thursday, February 5, facing the PLDT High Speed Hitters at the Playtime FilOil Centre in San Juan. The matchup is more than just an opener; it is an early test of whether Creamline’s renewed roster, blending returning veterans and fully conditioned stars, can quickly regain the dominance that has long defined the franchise.

As the PVL All-Filipino Conference kicks off, all eyes will be on Creamline — a team seeking not just to win games, but to reestablish its legacy as a powerhouse in Philippine volleyball. With a fully-fit squad, heightened focus, and a hunger to reclaim their former glory, the Cool Smashers are poised to make a strong statement right from the opening whistle.

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