The Cool Smashers will look to help the national team reach its goal of winning a medal in the upcoming SEA Games.
As the Philippine women's national volleyball team begins their training in Japan for the upcoming Southeast Asian Games in May, building chemistry will surely be one of the team's priorities.
Luckily for them, familiarity won’t be that much of a problem as seven Creamline Cool Smashers are part of the national team, as Alyssa Valdez, Jia De Guzman, Tots Carlos, Michele Gumabao, Jema Galanza, Ced Domingo, and Kyla Atienza are all suiting up.
Aside from the talent and leadership, there’s also another thing that fans can expect the Creamline stars to bring to the national squad—their famous ‘happy happy’ mantra.
“We correct each other, we help each other on the court kung ano 'yung mga adjustments na gagawin namin, but we do it all with a smiling face,” Gumabao said on the show Power and Play, hosted by former PBA commissioner Noli Eala.
Gumabao, who was hailed the Best Opposite Spiker of the 2023 PVL All-Filipino Conference, admitted that understanding their ‘happy happy’ mantra could be difficult at first, but it helped them to be the championship team that they are.
“Mahirap siyang intindihan talaga at first, pero I think 'yung nagpapa-encourage samin is lagi lang namin ite-take lightly or magjo-joke around kami, so sana dito rin sa national team,” said Gumabao.
Carlos, meanwhile, emphasized that their role in the national team is all about what they can contribute for team.
“Kung anong kailangan ng mga coaches, kung sino ipasok, siyempre kailangan lang namin gampanan kung ano 'yung kailangan namin gawin at that moment,” said the reigning PVL All-Filipino Conference MVP and Best Outside Spiker.
The women's national team look to finally have a podium finish in this year's SEA Games to break the 18-year medal drought in indoor volleyball.