Paat still on cloud nine after Asiad roster inclusion

MANILA, Philippines – Making it to the national pool is already a dream come true for Mylene Paat.

But making it to the final roster of the team that will compete in the Asian Games for the first time in 36 years is something else.

It made her heart jump with joy.

Paat admitted that she couldn’t believe her luck upon knowing that she has been chosen by the Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc. to be part of the Asian Games roster after Frances Molina crashed with an injury.

“I ran out of words. I couldn’t believe it,” said the soft-spoken, 24-year-old former Adamson University stalwart.

“My family was so happy. They were so proud. We had a little celebration at home because this is truly a blessing, a God’s gift to me and my family. This is something I would cherish for the rest of my life.”

Paat’s journey to the national team is one for the books.

Unlike other national team members who were heavily recruited out of high school, Paat flew under the radar and learned the game in the humble town of Bani in Pangasinan at a very late age of 16.

Then, she enrolled at University of Baguio and didn’t play her first official game until her second year in college.

In an inter-collegiate meet against major schools like De La Salle University and University of Santo Tomas in 2013, a scout from Adamson invited her to play for the Lady Falcons.

But it wasn’t because of her height or her talent.

 It was because of her hard work and dedication to the game.

“I may not be the most talented, but I always make sure that I am the hardest working player on the team,” said Paat, the fifth in a brood of six.

“We are not rich. That’s why I’m sacrificing and working hard to support my family through volleyball. My family is everything to me.”

She vowed that now that she’s part of the team, she would triple her effort to contribute in whatever way she could.

After all, nothing beats hard work.