Seeing only scrap minutes during the Philippines’ game against Iran last Friday, no one expected National University Lady Bulldog and Philips Gold Lady Slammer Myla Pablo to have the lion’s share of minutes during a crucial match against a highly-ranked Kazakhstan team.
Fielded among yesterday’s starters as opposite spiker, against a more experience Kazakhstan squad, Pablo contributed eight points and also made key defensive stops in most parts of the game.
“Sobrang saya kasi kahit paano, binigyan ako ni Coach Roger [Gorayeb] na bumalik sa first six kahit hindi ako masyadong nakakasama sa training,” Pablo said on starting yesterday’s game. “Alam ko kasi na hindi ako pinapasok ni Coach before since unfair naman kay Jho [Maraguinot] na nasa training palagi. Sabi ko sarili ko na kapag pinasok ako ni Coach, papatunayan ko na kaya kong makipagsabayan sa kalaban.”
Morever, Philippine team head coach Roger Gorayeb planned to change schemes given how tough the Kazakhstan team is. In that game, Gorayeb also opted to add more height and firepower to have a better chance in slaying one of Asia’s better teams.
“Nag-usap kami ni [assistant coach] Tai [Bundit] kanina kasi si Myla hindi masyadong nakakapagpractice. We were relying on the players na nagpapractice, kasi alam na nila iyong gagawin,” Gorayeb added. “Even before the start ng training namin, iniligay na namin si Myla sa utility [spiker position]. Mapapakinabangan siya sa position na iyon kasi may kapit papunta sa kaliwa.”
But in the end, Gorayeb’s gamble paid off despite Pablo’s scarce presence from the team’s regular training sessions.
“We are playing a stronger team compared to Iran kaya sabi ko we have to use everybody. Nag-adjust kami sa pwesto ng tao at napakaganda ng pangyayari at nag-click naman agad iyon,” Gorayeb added. “Gumana na agad si Myla and then what will we do? Hindi na namin magagamit ang iba kasi nafeel namin na mananalo na eh.”
More than grabbing this win, the game also did the national team a huge favor, as it made Pablo more gain her confidence back. Given the huge load placed on the broad shoulders of Alyssa Valdez and Jaja Santiago, the team’s primary offensive options, Pablo and the other players making up the team stepped up to the challenge which made the straight-sets win even sweeter.
“Parang pag tingin namin sa Kazakhstan, oh my god, ang laki,” Pablo shared about facing Kazakhstan. “Kahit gaano sila katangkad, [idadaan na lang] sa utak. Kahit paano nakaadjust. Sobrang saya kapag nakakapuntos.”
For the next game of Team Philippines, they shall either face Chinese Taipei or Japan depending on the seedings after their games today. The Philippines tightly holds the second seed in Pool A of the tournament regardless of the outcome of today’s match between Iran and Kazakhstan.
