Gumabao severs ties with Pocari

Michelle Gumabao of Pocari Sweat receives her citation and trophy after she is named Most Valuable Player for the Shakey’s V-League tilt in November 2016. TRISTAN TAMAYO / INQUIRER.net

Michele Gumabao, a certified crowd-drawer and vital cog in Pocari Sweat’s back-to-back championships in the Shakey’s V-League, is reportedly keen on a new team—if not a new league.

The comely open spiker, who helped La Salle in its UAAP title run—three titles in four seasons—several years back, has refused to sign a renewal deal with the Lady Warriors.

Gumabao, also an assistant coach of Adamson in the UAAP, is reportedly being pursued by F2 Logistics and Petron for the coming Philippine Superliga season.

Sources said Gumabao had differences with team officials despite providing leadership to Pocari, which won the SVL Open and Reinforced Conferences, the latter at the expense of Bureau of Customs led by superstar Alyssa Valdez.

Sources said she’s looking for a team “that will bring out the best in her.”

A stint with either the Cargo Movers or the Tri-Activ Spikers would bring her back to the PSL where she saw action for several teams like Philips Gold, Generika, AirAsia and PCSO.

In F2, she could be reunited with Lady Archers teammates Aby Maraño and Cha Cruz along with coach Ramil de Jesus.

Pocari has signed up Gyzelle Sy, Melissa Gohing, Desiree Dadang and Fille Cayetano after inking a P4.6 million deal to retain Myla Pablo.