Myla Pablo and other Petro Gazz veterans immediately rallied behind their rookies after an opening day loss in the PVL on Tour.
Veteran players from the Petro Gazz Angels comforted their rookie players after the team suffered a shocking loss to the Nxled Chameleons in their first game of the PVL on Tour in Batangas over the weekend.
Myla Pablo led the older, more experienced players in supporting rookie signings Jules Tolentino and Pauline De Guzman.
With all things considered with Brooke Van Sickle and MJ Phillips out due to national team duty, Pablo reminded the rookies that they shouldn’t be too hard on themselves.
“Sabi namin is first game pa lang naman marami pa kaming games na pwede makabawi so sabi namin sa rookies namin 'wag silang mawalan ng pag-asa kung ano 'yung nilaro nila ng first game namin kumbaga bumawi sila sa second game,” Pablo said after their bounce back win over Galeries Tower on Sunday.
“Ayun naman, kahit papaano na-guide namin sila sa loob ng court especially nila ate Chie [Saet], Nang [Maizo-Pontillas] and Rem [Palma] also.”
After getting extended minutes in their debut game, Tolentino and De Guzman had more of a helping hand from their older teammates the next time out.
Pablo led the cavalry with 14 points as starting setter Djanel Cheng saw action and Maizo-Pontillas played more than she did against the Chameleons.
But more than just giving support to the rookies, Pablo felt that it was key for Petro Gazz to work with what they have, especially with their main gunners unavailable at the moment.
With seasoned holdovers and key additions to the championship team, the wing spiker believes that there is more in store for them — especially after big performances from role players, like that of Nicole Tiamzon during their first two games.
Tasked to step up in the absence of their biggest stars, Tiamzon was able to supply scoring.
[READ: Petro Gazz rebounds at expense of Galeries Tower to even PVL on Tour slate]
For Pablo, it proved that the Angels are enough as long as they believe in it themselves, that they can do it even when they are undermanned.
“Yun nga sabi namin wag hanapin ang wala kung sinong nandiyan mag-contribute na lang as a team kasi andiyan din naman sila Tiammy, AA [Adolfo], and sila Jonah [Sabete] na alam namin na gagalaw sila this PVL and you can see naman naging maganda 'yung galaw ng bawat isa,” said Pablo.
“I think nagkulang lang din talaga kami nung first game talaga and adjustment na nangyari. Itong resulta this game kailangan pa namin more communication as a team and kailangan mag-ingay pa kami,” she added.
Having restored some order with a 1-1 slate, Pablo and the rest of the Angels hope to continue moving in a positive direction when they return to action on July 12 against the PLDT High Speed Hitters at Capital Arena in Ilagan City.