Newly married Michele Gumabao helps Creamline Cool Smashers in the PVL All-Filipino Conference qualifying round. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Alyssa Valdez and the Creamline Cool Smashers gave Michele Gumabao a memorable practice-slash-bridal shower before the beauty queen spiker’s wedding day.
The Creamline captain shared a video on Instagram where the Cool Smashers gave the Invitational Conference MVP an emotional sendoff with the whole team surprising her by wearing pink training shirts with Gumabao Aldo and her jersey No.7 printed at the back and giving her roses.
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“Well, here’s the thing… MG threw a bachelorette party for us over the weekend, and we realized she did it for us. So, we tried to surprise her during our practice. We all wore t-shirts with ‘Gumabao-Aldo’ on them. It’s Gumabao-Aldo because it was supposed to be Gumabao-Panlilio, but it became Gumabao-Aldo because Panaga, Pangs, made a comment at the bachelorette party asking, ‘What’s going to be on your jersey? Gumabao-Aldo?’ We all laughed, but she was serious about it,” Valdez said.
READ: PVL: Michele Gumabao back in action right away after wedding
Alyssa Valdez talks about Creamline’s surprise for Michele Gumabao a day before her wedding. #PVL2025 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/r7JvJ3OUFI
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) February 27, 2025
“She deserves the best, and it was her last time being single. She cried because it was the first time she was truly surprised.”
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Two days after their wedding, Gumabao played inspired with an efficient 7-of-15 attacking clip in two sets as Creamline swept 12th seed Nxled, 25-18, 25-17, 25-17, en route to the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference quarterfinals on Thursday at Philsports Arena.
Gumabao thanked Creamline for its extreme support, helping her juggle her wedding and pro stint.
“Honestly, I didn’t expect that day when they surprised me. I think that’s why I cried so much—it was just so overwhelming. All the planning, the schedule, and sometimes they know how exhausted I am. Even when they tell me I can skip practice or not come, coach also says it’s okay if I need a break,” Gumabao said in Filipino.
READ: PVL player Michele Gumabao, Aldo Panlilio get married
Michele Gumabao on Creamline’s surprise. #PVL2025 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/TXbsFZyant
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) February 27, 2025
Gumabao’s bachelorette party had an unusual funeral theme, where she was surprised with a dance number from Cool Smashers Tots Carlos, Pangs Panaga, and Lorie Bernardo.
“I’m a fun person, and I was the one who picked that theme. I saw it online and thought, “I want to do this!”
It was really a funeral theme—like, “death to your single life.” I thought it was hilarious, and I wanted to recreate it because it looked so fun,” said Gumabao. “I don’t think it’s something that’s usually done here in the Philippines. Maybe because people are a bit shy or worried about getting judged. But, you know me, I don’t really pay attention to that. I just thought it was a fun idea and I really wanted to go for it.”
Gumabao and the Cool Smashers face the 8th seed — one of the two survivors of the play-in — in a best-of-three quarterfinals series.
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