Myla Pablo admits she still has trauma from her calf injury during her time with F2 Logistics Cargo Movers.
Myla Pablo couldn’t hold back her emotions after Petro Gazz clinched a crucial four-set victory over Choco Mucho, 24-26, 25-18, 25-17, 27-25, in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference semifinals at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig on Tuesday, April 1.
Finishing with 13 points and nine excellent digs, Pablo proved her worth on both ends of the floor. But beyond the numbers, it was the mental hurdle she overcame that made this performance even more meaningful.
Pablo sat out for most of the fourth set but was called back in the closing moments. With the game on the line, she delivered back-to-back points in the extended set to seal the clutch victory.
“Kailangan talaga is makuha namin itong four sets and then ayun nga, parang nag-usap usap kami sa loob ng court na pagpapalo ako, i-cover ako. ‘Yun ‘yung naging maganda sa team namin is nandoon 'yung tiwala ng bawat isa,” Pablo shared during the post-game press conference.
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After the game, exhaustion and emotion took over as Pablo collapsed on the court—not just from fatigue but from the weight of everything she had just conquered.
But more than the hard-fought win, the match was a personal battle for Pablo, who confronted the lingering trauma of a past injury that nearly derailed her career.
In 2023, Pablo had to deal with a strained left calf during her time with the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers.
“Medyo wala ako sa loob ng court kasi parang trauma pa ako nung sa F2 before eh, kasi nung pinilit ko yung calf ko noon, na-strain,” Pablo admitted.
When her teammate Brooke Van Sickle checked on her, the 31-year-old spiker knew she had to push through.
“Nung sinabi ni Brooke [Van Sickle] ‘Can you play?' Parang sabi ko 'Kailangan ako ng team, especially with coach Koji [Tsuzurabara]',” she recalled.
“Medyo nag-alalay pa ako sa court kasi medyo takot pa ako eh. And then, after that nag-pray lang ako na 'Lord, help me na ilayo nyo ko sa ganung injury'. So ayun, natapos na, parang 'Okay na, pagod na lahat, magpapahinga na tayo',” she added.
[ALSO READ: Brooke Van Sickle raves about Myla Pablo as duo pushes Petro Gazz to fourth-straight win]
Pablo and the Angels will be out to secure their Finals berth on Thursday, April 1 when they take on the Akari Chargers at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.