FILE – Mylene Paat. INQUIRER PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Mylene Paat isn’t searching for the spotlight after signing a one-tournament deal with Nakhon Ratchasima Women’s Volleyball Club in Thailand.
The Chery Tiggo spiker joined a short list of Filipino volleyball players who will and have played outside the Philippines including Jaja Santiago, Dindin Santiago-Manabat, Alyssa Valdez, Marck Espejo, and Bryan Bagunas.
Though she’s already headed for an international career, Paat said she’s not the one to actively go the superstar route and instead use the opportunity to get better as a player.
“I don’t feel that I’m a star,” said Paat, speaking in Filipino, in an interview with One Sports’ The Game. “What I want is to learn in every game I play.”
Paat had a busy 2021 wherein she competed in three separate tournaments including the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference where she helped the Crossovers to the championship.
She then played in the AVC Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championship with Team Rebisco.
The 27-year-old’s final foray was with Cherry Tigo in a runner-up finish in the Philippine National Volleyball Federation Champions League.
Humble in her achievement, Paat said she’s blessed to get a career outside the Philippines.
“Of course I’m glad that I’m in the same conversation as they are,” said Paat, who will be the third Filipino to play in Thailand after Valdez in 2016 and Espejo in 2019.
“I’m blessed to play in Thailand and of course have the Philippines get recognized because of volleyball.”