AFTER a successful playing career a lucky few outstanding athletes go on to a coaching job.
When players get older and slower, they also lose most of the skills needed to compete at their sport. Because of their love for their game they stay on to coach other players.
Michelle Gumabao, Alaska Volleyball Power Camp Director, is cut from a different cloth.
She’s still at the peak of her athletic prowess as the star player of the Pocari Sweat Lady Warriors yet already coaches as one of the assistants of the Adamson University Lady Falcons competing in the UAAP. She has also set up her own camp to teach the sport to aspiring young girls.
Last season she led Philips Gold to a Philippine Super Liga crown. The team has since joined the Shakey’s V-League as Pocari Sweat which is on top of the standings with two straight victories.
Gumabao and the Lady Warriors trounced the UP Lady Maroons, 25-18, 25-14, 25-22, in last Saturday’s inaugural game. They then wore down the National University Lady Bulldogs in a thrilling come-from-behind 34-32, 17-25, 23-25, 25-17, 15-11 victory this past Wednesday to vault to the top of the standings of the Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Open Conference.
Gumabao has been leading the Lady Warriors’ charge in the tournament backed by Mikasa and Accel.
She was outstanding against UP with 20 hits. She turned in a monster game against NU with an eye-popping 27 points on 17 spikes, eight blocks and two service aces.
She was also the team’s defensive anchor as she tallied 13 digs.
Pocari Sweat parades a power-packed lineup good enough to win a PSL title. The players include power-spiking Myla Pablo as well as Elaine Kasilag, Lutgarda Malaluan, Siemens Dadang, Rossan Fajardo, Maricar Nepomuceno, Erika Alkuino, Sarah Espelita, Rose Vargas, setter Gyselle Sy and libero Melissa Gohing.
But it’s still Gumabao who is the heart and soul of the team.
Pocari Sweat coach Rommel Abella acknowledged Gumabao’s importance not just as a player but as a vocal leader of the squad both on and off the court.
“She is the leader of this team and in the NU game, she showed why,” said Abella.
Gumabao is one of the most sought-after player in local volleyball.
After graduating from La Salle she joined the PCSO Bingo Milyonaryo Puffins (PSL, 2013), the AirAsia Flying Spikers (PSL, 2014), the Generika Life.savers (PSL, 2014) and the Philips Gold Lady Slammers (PSL, 2015-present).
In between Shakey’s V-League games and team practices she runs the Alaska Volleyball Power Camps which ran April to May at the Ateneo De Manila Grade School covered courts and at De La Salle Zobel.
Girl volleyball players can only benefit from Gumabao’s coaching. She also serves as role model and inspiration as the girls get to see firsthand that like basketball for men, there can be a career for young ladies in the sport of volleyball.
