ANTIPOLO — Myla Pablo and Aiza Maizo-Pontillas have aged together like fine wine as they represent the PVL’s old guard in today’s much-younger pro league landscape.
They might’ve been household names in Philippine volleyball for the longest time since their UAAP days but it wasn’t only until late last year when the Petro Gazz power duo formed a special friendship-turned-sisterhood.
READ: Unstoppable Petro Gazz sweeps Galeries Tower for 8th straight win
It turns out, the best bonds do start in the most intimate spaces - in their case, attending different churches.
“Nag-start ‘yung friendship namin ni Mommy A, ngayon lang, this conference lang. Same vibes kasi kami ni Mommy A. Kunyari kakain ako, mag-aaya ako, kasama siya. ‘Pag mag-aaya siya, kasama rin ako,” Pablo shared with SPIN.ph.
“Nag-start ‘yan nu’ng nag-cchurch na kami lagi, every Sunday. Kung saan-saan kami nag-i-church. Meron sa N. Domingo, tapos sa Greenhills, tapos dito sa Antipolo, ganun. Kulang na lang, ikutin namin buong mundo ng mga church, ‘di ba? Kumbaga naging komportable na rin talaga kami sa isa’t isa.”
While Maizo-Pontillas has come off as a silent but deadly character when she plays, there’s a much lighter side to her that not many people might know of.
“Same lang naman siya sa loob ng court. Tahimik talaga siya. Hindi siya maingay, hindi siya makwento. Pero minsan, sobrang kalog din ‘yan. Lalo’t kapag nag-Tiktok kaming dalawa,” Pablo said.
“Napapasayaw ko siya’t napapa-giling pa.”
Pablo, 31, is also at ease with the fact that her ’Nang’ Aiza, 36, hasn’t just been a teammate for her. She’s been her best friend, her sister, and her go-to girl in times of hardships.
“Kami ni Nang, kung may nangyayari man, ‘pag may problema ako, siya ‘yung nilalapitan ko especially ‘pag sa training. Kinakausap ko siya kung ano ‘yung kailangan kong gawin pa sa loob ng court,” she said.
That unexpected synergy has also worked wonders for the veteran duo on the court as they stand front and center in Petro Gazz’ unstoppable run of form in the PVL.
“Si Nang din naman, nag-uusap kami lagi sa loob ng court kung anong dapat naming gawin lalo sa mga defense na rin ngayong magkasama kami rin madalas sa depensa.
“Nag-uusap kami na ‘oh Mommy A, saan ako? Kukunin ko ba yung down the line? Babasahin mo ba ‘yung palo?’ Du’n din nag-start lahat eh. Du’n namin na-realize na same vibes pala kami ni Mommy A.”
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