MYLA Pablo fell right on her knees the moment she hit the last two match-winning points for Petro Gazz to secure a 24-26, 25-18, 25-17, 27-25 victory over Choco Mucho in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference semifinals.
At that moment, it sunk in for the former PVL MVP that she and the rest of the Angels are now one win away from a fifth finals appearance for a chance to break a three-year title drought once and for all.
READ: PVL finals within reach for Petro Gazz after win over Choco Mucho
If there were any words to describe such a euphoric moment for Pablo, it’s emotion, redemption and caution.
Results aside, the pains of the past flashed right before the 31-year-old winger’s eyes.
Having dealt with a series of calf injuries that plagued her one-year stint with defunct F2 Logistics, Pablo played with a dash of extra caution as she was starting to feel discomfort on her left calf.
“Nu’ng humiga ako (after the game), parang nafi-feel ko kasi yung calf ko na naman. Nu’ng fourth set, nawala ako sa loob ng court kasi may trauma pa ako nu’ng sa F2 before eh, nu’ng pinilit ko yung calf ko noon na na-strain,” Pablo said.
“Nu’ng sinabi sa’kin ni Brooke (Van Sickle) na ‘you can play,’ sabi ko 'kailangan ako ng team, especially with coach Koji' kaya ginawa ko pa rin yung trabaho ko.”
Myla gets redemption by powering through pain
Pained as she might’ve been, Pablo took matters into her own hands to still fire the two game-winning kills.
It was also her way of redeeming herself after making a pair of late attack faults back in their stunning Game One quarterfinals loss ZUS Coffee.
“Naging lesson learned sa’kin yung crucial (errors ko) sa ZUS. Sabi ko, 'ito na naman ako, ako nanaman ‘yung nasa harapan’ kaya kailangan talagang makuha namin itong four sets,” Pablo said.
“Nag-usap-usap kami sa loob ng court na ‘pag papalo ako, i-cover ako. ‘Yun yung naging maganda sa team namin is nandoon yung tiwala ng bawat isa."
And it was all made possible by a little prayer she said to arm her with the confidence and strength to carry on en route to victory.
“Medyo nag-alalay pa ako sa court kasi medyo takot pa ako eh. After that, nag-pray lang ako na 'Lord, help me na ilayo niyo ko sa ganung injury,’” said Pablo.
“Natapos na, parang 'okay na, pagod na lahat, magpapahinga na tayo.’”
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