Pablo powers Nxled to first win

MANILA, Philippines — Myla Pablo has a certain way of reminding people how good she can be especially in situations where her team needs it most.

On this rainy Saturday in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur and minus the squad’s most lethal weapon in Brooke Van Sickle, the high scoring 32-year-old spiker showed up with vigor and powered Nxled to a 25-17, 25-23, 25-18 rout of a shorthanded Capital1 in the PVL on Tour.

She lived up to her moniker as “Typhoon Pablo” and left a wreath of devastation by unleashing a match-best 17 points, including 12 bazooka kills and four blocks in powering the Chameleons to their first win in two outings.

Pablo’s timely effort was enough to fill that massive void left by Van Sickle, who was ruled out for the rest of the short but sweet experimental conference due to shoulder issues.

“We just applied in this game what we prepared during practice,” said Pablo.

This win somehow erased the stigma of Nxled’s stinging four-set defeat to the Creamline Cool Smashers in the conference opener in Ilagan, Isabela last July 8.

Pablo also heaped praise on new setter Gel Cayuna – formerly of Cignal – who did well in this match after struggling in her first game versus the Cool Smashers.

“We all know that Gel Cayuna is one of the best setters in the PVL and I told her to just show patience and not panic,” she said.

It was a painful setback for the Solar Spikers, who were without their three stars in Bella Belen, Vanie Gandler and Erika Santos, who were on Alas duties.