‘Bagyong Pablo’ stays ready even as she takes a backseat for Petro Gazz.
For every import-laced tournament, at least one local player will take a backseat in order to accommodate their foreign reinforcement.
In the case of the Petro Gazz Angels, that player had to be Myla Pablo, whose minutes were reduced to make room for returning import Lindsey Vander Weide in the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference.
On a resurgent run since the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference, it would have been understandable for Pablo to lose her confidence. Yet, as a true professional, the two-time PVL Most Valuable Player stayed ready, knowing she can still contribute as part of the second six.
The 32-year-old’s patience already paid off earlier into the Reinforced Conference, going from outside hitter to opposite spiker under the tutelage of new head coach Gary Van Sickle.
And when the stakes were at their highest, Pablo shone the brightest, coming up big after Vander Weide’s right ankle sprain against the Creamline Cool Smashers during the conference quarterfinals on Monday, November 24.
“Parang ready lang din ako sa labas kung tatawagin ako ni coach and kung anong magiging posisyon ko, opposite man or open ako, gagawin ko ‘yung best ko para sa team,” Pablo said after Petro Gazz dethroned the Creamline, 25-23, 25-19, 16-25, 25-14.
Pablo finished with a game-high 26 points, teaming up with Brooke Van Sickle to deal their longtime rivals an early exit.
“I know na ‘yun nga, ‘yung nangyari kay Lindsey, parang sabi ko, no pressure muna sa loob ng court, kailangan magperform ako. Kasi pag na-pressure ako sa loob, parang mawawala ako sa loob ng court, kaya unang ginawa ko, nag-pray muna ako syempre,” Pablo reflected.
“And syempre, tinulungan din ako ng mga teammates ko and mga coaches ko na nire-remind ako lagi, ‘Oh Myla, pwesto mo na yan, hindi ka na [kailangan] mag-adjust dyan. So ayun, I’m really happy na tinulungan din ako ni Jules [Tolentino] sa loob ng court.”
For Pablo, it was all about making an impact for the Angels, knowing that their season was on the line against a tough foe.
“Hindi ko kasi chinecheck ‘yung points ko today, mas iniisip ko ‘yung manalo kasi knockout game, and sabi ko nga, parang kung nagagawa ko sa training namin in the past few days, na kailangan ‘yung tinraining ko, kailangan i-apply ko din sa game,” she reflected.
“So hindi ko expect na gano’n ‘yung magiging performance ko in this game and knockout game pa and I’m really happy na nandyan ‘yung mga teammates ko and coaches ko na nire-remind ako sa loob ng court.”
Still, the job isn’t finished for Myla Pablo and Petro Gazz, as they look to clinch a finals ticket this Thursday, November 27, in the semifinals against the Akari Chargers. As with Petro Gazz taking down Creamline, Akari is also coming off a historic upset against the top-seeded Farm Fresh Foxies.
“Alam naman namin na grabe ‘yung Akari ngayon and nanalo sila, so kami naman, kailangan din talaga na magtulong-tulong kami as a team na makuha namin tong game na ‘to; ready lang din kami sa magiging adjustment ng mga coaches namin.”
Images courtesy of the Premier Volleyball League.