Myla Pablo was leaning on the wall of the Filoil Flying V Centre at around nine in the evening, Thursday night, and she couldn’t help but smile.
“Biruin mo? Nag-champion pa kami,” Pablo quipped as she happily began the post-game scrum, like she always does.
This Myla Pablo doesn’t look like she’s suffering back pain from chronic back spasms, something she shouldn’t have played through at all after aggravating it late in the second round.
The Tarlac-native looked more injured in her last year with the National University, when she slumped out of the Final Four in the UAAP. Pablo, admittedly, felt like she had been carrying a huge weight on her back during those days.
Two years removed from her stint with the Lady Bulldogs, Pablo is in cloud nine, massive back brace and all.
There were questions about Myla Pablo’s desire and mental stability coming out of NU. But now, she’s a three-time PVL champion with two Finals MVPs. She’s the undoubted ace of Pocari Sweat and she could not be happier.
“Sobrang saya ko kasi grabe ‘yung pinagadaanan namin this season,” the 23-year-old told Tiebreaker Times.
Out of her three championships, this one against the Bali Pure Purest Water Defenders is her favorite.
“Hindi kasi talaga namin inakala na aabot pa kami dito.
“Nagtiwala na lang kami sa isa’t isa. Ang daming injuries sa amin. Ako sa likod, si Elaine [Kasilag] sa braso, nawala pa si Edina [Selimovic]. Late naglaro si Krystal [Rivers] kaya grabe talaga ang hirap na pinagdaanan namin,” the 5-foot-9 open spiker reflected.
On her renewed reputation, Pablo really doesn’t care. She’s too busy being happy playing with her newfound family.
“Hindi ko na pinapansin ‘yung mga sinasabi tungkol sa akin. Masaya ako na nakarating ako sa point na ‘to sa career ko. Very blessed ako to be with this team,” the three-time V-League champion declared.
