Troubles were worth it as Pablo relishes Finals MVP trophy

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Myla Pablo now has three Finals MVP trophies under her name, and she knows the third could cement her reputation as one of the best hitters in the Premier Volleyball League.

Pocari’s outside hitter averaged 15.33 points in the three finals games of the Reinforced Conference where she played a vital piece in the Lady Warriors’ title quest.

“Right now, it feels amazing because despite of what we’ve been through in the quarterfinals, and the semifinals, we’re still pushing no matter what,” said Pablo Thursday after scoring 16 points in their 20-25, 25-17, 25-17, 25-19 Game 3 win over Bali Pure.

Pablo won her first Finals MVP plum in the 2015 Shakey’s V-League Collegiate Conference, and the second one was in the 2016 Shakey’s V-League Open Conference.

Her third, however, was the fruit of a laborious season after Pocari started the PVL’s inaugural conference without imports.

And although all teams started their first few games without the foreign reinforcements, Pablo said it was up to the locals like her to steer the ship as they waited for their imports.

Pocari’s first import Edina Sellimovic suffered was injured and it left Michelle Strizak to carry the burden of being the team’s lone foreign help.

Krystal Rivers, who was Sellimovic’s replacement, had to wait for weeks before getting cleared and she was able to play for the Lady Warriors in the first game of the finals.

“Edina got injured, and Krystal got into the team late so it would be us locals who would have to step up,” said Pablo. “But with this championship, I know that all our hard work has been worth it.”