An unfamiliar sight concluded the 2017 Premier Volleyball League Open Conference. The Pocari Sweat Lady Warriors, winners of the last three conferences, were in tears — and unfortunately, not those of joy, as the Lady Warriors had just suffered their first-ever Finals loss since debuting in the V-League back in 2016.
True to their warrior moniker, Pocari Sweat tried to fight back from the numerous deficits that they faced in Game Two, but ultimately fell short against a determined Bali Pure squad.
“Sobrang nakakapagod talaga. Nakulangan lang talaga,” Myla Pablo admitted, though it was clearly tough for her.
Three days prior to Game Two, the 23-year old had been confined to a hospital bed, experiencing a bad case of Urinary Tract Infection. But with her team needing her, Pablo rose up.
“Okay na ako. Kahapon lang ako nakapag-training,” she shared.
“Same pa rin naman ako.”
Still sick or not, the Open Conference MVP finished with the same numbers, scoring 21 points while attempting 51 attacks.
“Ibibigay mo talaga ‘yung best mo talaga, kahit sabihin mong ay, ‘parang may sakit ka.’ Iisipin mo na, ‘excuse ba ‘yun?’ Parang hindi excuse eh. Kasi kailangan mo talaga manalo para sa Game Three,” Pablo added.
“Eh ayun, hindi pinagpala. Hindi po talaga para sa amin.”
Though defeated for the first time post-college, the former National University stalwart was happy for her former mentor Roger Gorayeb.
“Masaya po ako para sa kanya kasi nakapag-champion po siya.
“Masaya po ako sa kanila kasi natutulungan nila ang coach nila, lahat ng player niya, ‘di po siya binigo na makuha ang championship na ito,” she expressed.
And this loss will only serve as the fire-starter for Pablo and the Lady Warriors, as they enter a long break before the season once again opens its curtains come the summer of 2018.
“Hindi namin pababayaan ang sarili namin, magwo-work out pa rin kami.”
