Between 1998 and 2002, Ysmael "Yael" Yuzon, met Reynaldo "Gosh" Dilay through the school's theater guild, Teatro Baguntao. Yuzon was then the frontman of a rock band called White Chapel together with some talented individuals in Ateneo High School. Nevertheless, he decided to form a band with Dilay and two other members of the theater guild. They named the group Sponge after R.S. Surtee's Mr. Sponge's Sporting Tour. Later however, they learned about a Detroitgrunge band already using the name Sponge, so they just simply decided to add “cola,” to give their name more semblance. The band won in several high school competitions boosting their popularity not just in their school but in other campuses, as well. The band's breakthrough in the mainstream was when they signed up for a record distribution under Sony BMG Records Philippines. The band is currently signed up for Universal Records.
Dilay composed the hits "Una", "'Di Na Mababawi", "Wala Kang Katulad" and "Tuliro" which won them Favorite Music Video on MyxMusic Awards2008 and the hit ballad "Kay Tagal Kitang Hinintay".
The song "Tambay", which Yuzon co-wrote with Dilay, receives an outstanding Diamond record award with over 150,000 copies sold.[2]