It took her awhile, but Myla Pablo eventually got her game going just in time to lead the Pocari Sweat Lady Warriors to a five-set victory over her former team, the National University Lady Bulldogs, Wednesday evening.
The National Team standout scored most of her 18 points in the last two sets of the match, both of which the Lady Dubs won.
“Noong second set, sinabi ko talaga kay coach na kailangan kong ipahinga yung tuhod ko kasi sumasakit nanaman,” Pablo said referring to her right knee which has been experiencing pain since the UAAP Season. “Sinabihan lang ako ni coach na bumawi lang ako. Nasa isip ko na wala akong iindahin na sakit.”
A few months back, Pablo had a tumultuous last season with the Lady Bulldogs. After starting off the season on top of the league after defeating eventual champs DLSU Lady Spikers in the first round, NU spiraled out of the Final Four picture for the first time in three seasons. Pablo was even benched in her final outing: scoring just a solitary point.
Now playing full-time for Pocari Sweat, Pablo insists she has moved on from the negativity of her final collegiate season and only has good memories of her final UAAP season.
“Masaya ako kasi nakalaro ko yung dati kong teammates. Pero siyempre nandoon pa rin yung ilang. Kasi namimiss ko talaga sila – di ko maiwasang kamustahin sila madalas,” Pablo said.
Pablo even added that she still has the utmost respect of NU coach Roger Gorayeb amidst rumors of their rocky relationship.
“Yung iba kasi iniisip nila na galit ako kay coach Roger pero hindi. Wala yun,” Pablo expressed. “Kung anuman yung nangyari noong UAAP, fault ko naman kung bakit ganoon yung laro ko.”
“Parang naipagtatanggol pa nga ako ni coach Roger sa mga tao.”
Gorayeb shared the same sentiment for his former spiker and wishes her nothing but success in her professional career.
“Masaya ako para kay Myla,” Gorayeb told Tiebreaker Times. “Sa lahat ng mga player ko, alam nilang ganito talaga ako – close kami sa labas ng court pero sa loob ng court kailangan maglaro ng maayos. Ang iniisip ko kailangan manalo.”
“Wala pa namang lumalayas sa team ko dahil sa galit ko. Yung mga lagi ko pa ngang napapagalitan yung kumukuha sa aking ninong sa kasal o ninong ng anak nila,” Gorayeb closed.
