MYLA Pablo’s teammates put the happy on her birthday as Motolite overcame BanKo in a thriller of a match in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference on Wednesday night at The Arena in San Juan.
Tots Carlos, Isa Molde, and Bernadette Flora took over in Motolite’ five-set win over the Perlas Spikers, 25-16, 25-21, 19-25, 29-31, 19-17, a day before Pablo turns 26.
Although the Motolite star was reduced to a spectator as she was recuperating from her metatarsal sprain on her right foot that she sustained during their match against Petro Gazz on Sunday, she had all the reason to celebrate.
“Sobrang happy kasi halos lahat gumawa, middle namin, mga open spikers namin – sina Isa, Tots, lalo na si Flora – grabe sobrang nakaka-proud sila,” said Pablo, who was in crutches.

“Alam ko naman na ibinigay nila ‘yung best nila, lalo sa fifth set, nakita ko ang puso nila maglaro,” she added.
Pablo shared it was a touching gesture from Bernadette Flora, who told her that the game was the team’s birthday gift for her.
“Actually sinabi sa akin ni Flor ‘yun,” said Pablo. “Sabi ko sa kanya, ‘Galingan mo, ha? Andito lang ako sa tabi mo, akong bahala sa'yo. Basta paluin mo lang nang paluin. ‘Wag kang mag-iisip ng kung anu-ano, maglaro ka lang.’"
She added: “Nakaka-touch lang kasi ‘yung mga teammates ko inaalay nila sa akin ‘yung game. Sobrang nakaka-proud talaga as in. Kasi alam namin na kailangan namin manalo kasi siyempre sayang ‘yung ibang panalo namin.”
The match, which took two hours and 23 minutes to finish, ended 20 minutes past 9 o’clock in the evening but Pablo stayed for the entirety of the match and even joined the team for the post game huddle. It was around 10 p.m. that Pablo left the venue.

Motolite coach Godfrey Okumu would have wanted to buy her a cake but since bakeshops were probably closed already, the win would have to be his gift for the injured star for now.
“We can’t afford a cake today, all shops are closed. The game [instead], I give to her as a present,” he said.
Motolite improved to 5-2 to take the solo No. 2 spot behind undefeated Creamline (8-0). Motolite will end the first round of elimination on Sunday against skidding Choco Mucho.
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