Michelle Gumabao, one of the most noted names in women’s volleyball circuit, has always been passionate about teaching children the rudiments of the sport that has allowed her to enjoy life to the fullest.
The Fil-American Gumabao was a member of the De Le Salle University team that won three consecutive titles in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) women’s volleyball.
She was finals Most Valuable Player in the UAAP season 75 before completing her eligibility in the league and graduating with a degree in marketing.
She is not done yet. Gumabao will continue hitting the net as he sees action for the newly formed team United VC in the Philippine Super Liga (PSL) 2017 season.
And while in active play, she can also share her skills and talents with young girls.
“It is something for them to enjoy and syempre gusto lang talaga naming i-share sa kanila yung mga natutunan namin dati from our coaches,” said Gumabao during the graduation day for participants at the University of Baguio in Baguio City.
As camp director of the Alaska Volleyball Powercamp, she can also instill the values of discipline, hard work, team work and sportsmanship.
The Alaska Power Camp made the most out of the summer months for kids to engage in different sports instead of being hooked on TV, computers or video games at home.
“To encourage them, to push them, to make them confident enough, to step them out of comfort zone, a lot of these kids hindi nag-iisports, I’m so happy na they trusted us and they came here to try out volleyball,” Gumabao said.
Alaska Volleyball Power Camp encourages children who are not really exposed in sports to participate and enjoy an active lifestyle.
“We really target those who don’t know how to play and those who are just starting to play. So yung mga advanced, meron kaming coaches in Manila, handling advanced team, as we all know these players are part of varsities already,” the PSL player said.
“We’re trying to teach them the discipline na kailangan naming i-perfect yung basic, because that’s what volleyball is all about,” she reiterated.
Exemplifying its commitment to nation building through proper nutrition and sports, Alaska celebrated Milk Month as it held the annual Alaska Volleyball Power Camp at the University of Baguio.
Gumabao admitted that training will need a lot of hard work and patience and it will pay dividends later on.
Aside from volleyball, the Powercamp also featured basketball clinic under Camp Director Jeffrey Cariaso, an assistant coach of the Alaska Aces who won several championships with the Aces in the Philippine Basketball Association, including a rare grandslam in 1996.
Football camp director Tomas Lozano facilitated the training camp at the Benguet State University pitch.
The Alaska Powercamp has designed a training program for children six to 18 years old to cultivate young athletes’ potential through a series of school and open clinics.
It also seeks to help these young talents form the habit of getting the right nourishment by drinking milk and through leading a healthy and active lifestyle – which is the thrust of Alaska.
According to the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), obesity has become one of the most pressing nutritional issues of Filipino children today with about five in 100 Filipino kids who are overweight.
Alaska emphasizes the need for children to start leading healthier, energetic and nutritionally-balanced lifestyles through programs like the Alaska Powercamp to entice kids to put down their gadgets and pick up a sport instead.
“We have instilled these values in them because this is what real champions are made of,’’ said Cariaso.
Prior to the Baguio finale inside the Philippine Military Academy, the Alaska Basketball Powercamp was also held at the Ateneo de Manila in Quezon City, Subic, Lucena, Batangas, Bacolod and Cebu that encouraged more children to embrace the sport and discover the advantages of a healthy lifestyle at a young age.