Petro Gazz Angels’ Myla Pablo during the PVL All-Filipino Conference qualifying round. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Myla Pablo has already proven herself as one of the best hitters in the league with two PVL Reinforced titles.
But in Petro Gazz’s playoffs entry in the 2024-25 All-Filipino Conference, expect a smarter version of Pablo after her resurgence led her team to 10 straight wins and sent Capital1 to the play-in with a 25-19, 25-23, 25-21 win in the qualifying round on Saturday at Philsports Arena.
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READ: PVL: Myla Pablo, Van Sickle power Petro Gazz into quarterfinals
“I’ve been playing for a long time now. I’ve been through a lot, especially when it comes to playoffs. As a player, it’s not just about strength. You also need to be smart,” Pablo told Inquirer Sports in Filipino after pouring in 17 points.
“I think that’s what’s made me a better player — maturity and being more strategic on the court.”
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Petro Gazz Angels’ Myla Pablo during the PVL All-Filipino Conference qualifying round game against Capital1 Solar Spikers. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Pablo, who rediscovered her fiery scoring prowess this conference, made sure not to waste their impressive run in the preliminary round.
“In this game, you can’t relax because all your previous wins and being in the top two won’t matter if you lose in this qualifying round. Like we said, we can’t start slow. We really need to bring good energy on the court from the beginning,” said the 31-year-old spiker.
READ: Back as the player of old, Myla Pablo has become a key Angel
“I just focused on doing my job this conference, and as a player, my confidence is coming back because we have a goal. We know everyone has their own goal, but we really want to achieve what we need to this conference,” she added.
The two-time PVL MVP, who last won a title with Petro Gazz in the 2022 Reinforced Conference, said they still have a lot to work on, including their consistency and service receive in order to help reigning MVP Brooke Van Sickle.
“We know Brooke is there to help the team. But we really need to work together as a team to win each set and the game,” she said.
The Angels will wait for the No.7 seed, which will be up for grabs in the play-in, but Pablo is not resting on her laurels ahead of the best-of-three quarterfinals.
“Right now, we’re just waiting for the quarterfinals. But of course, we can’t rest yet. We still have a lot to work on in training,” Pablo said.
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“I will continue to work out with Coach Aldo [Panlilio] even though he’s married to Michele [Gumabao]. But I’m really happy he’s there to help me get my game back on track. You can see that my game is coming back, and I really need to take care of my body. I’m hoping that my body stays in good shape and avoid injuries.”
