Paat secured her first PVL MVP award last year, along with a Best Opposite Spiker plum.
There was only one thing Mylene Paat could do to reward herself after winning the Most Valuable Player Award last December.
"Actually, natulog," Paat told One Sports on Wednesday before grinning sheepishly.
It was completely understandable for the lone Filipina in the top five scorers of the 2022 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference eliminations.
"Doon ko na-feel lahat ng pagod noong last conference. 'Yung tipong umiyak ako sa mismong venue pagkaabot ng trophy. After pa lang ng game, umiiyak ako. Hanggang sa awarding, umiiyak ako," she admitted.
After a stint with Nakhon Ratchasima in Thailand leading to a bronze, Paat was fired up for Chery Tiggo in the preliminaries. She racked up 196 points with an efficiency of 34.84%, just below imports Lindsey Vander Weide and Yeliz Basa. She also ranked eighth in blocking and in digs.
The Crossovers just missed the podium at fourth place, a significant improvement from their eighth place finish in the 2022 Invitational Conference and the Open Conference.
"Pinaka-goal namin is talagang makarating sa Finals, but then na-short," Paat shared in a positive tone as she relishes her MVP campaign. "Thankful pa rin ako kay God kasi binigyan niya ako ng bonus."
But can the Crossovers ride that momentum to the All Filipino Conference?
Chery Tiggo will not have the Santiago sisters Jaja and Dindin, who were key cogs to their 2021 Open Conference championship. Instead, they have welcomed opposite hitter Ponggay Gaston, middle blocker Seth Rodriguez, and libero Bingle Landicho.
Paat, being the captain and the ate of the Crossovers, expects the team to push themselves even further. "All-Filipino ngayon. Labanan talaga 'to. Walang import-import dito, kasi magkakakitaan ng totoong skills, 'yung performance ng isang player," she said.
"Ako mismo, sana mai-lead ko yung team nang mas maayos. Hindi man sa performance, kundi paano sila bibigyan ng inspiration, kung anong payo gagawin sa loob ng court, at maging ate sa kanila kahit outside of the court."
The PVL All-Filipino Conference is set to commence on February 4.