JAKARTA, Indonesia – Mylene Paat fulfilled her dream of playing in the national team. Although her first stint resulted to a loss, the former Adamson standout still felt lucky to go up against Southeast Asian powerhouse Thailand in the 2018 Asian Games.  

“Sobrang marami (akong natutunan) kasi iba yung competition dito unlike doon sa atin. So international na ito dala-dala namin yung bandera ng Pilipinas,” said Paat. 

(I learned a lot because the competition is different unlike back home. This is the international stage, we’re representing the Philippine flag.)

“Maganda siya kasi yung mga veterans ang mga nakakalaban, parang nachachallenge ang bawat isa sa amin.”

(It’s great because we’re going up against veteran players and we’re getting challenged.) 

The Philippines put up a fight against Thailand in the first set before unraveling in the final two frames for a straight-set loss.

Paat came off the bench when the team needed to regroup as the Thais found their rhythm after the second techincial timeout of the first set. 

“Feeling ko noong una, andun ang kinakabahan, habang tumatagal na-cocope up naman at nalalabanan naman yung kaba na yan,” shared Paat. 

(At first, the nervousness was there, but then as the game went on, I managed to cope and battle the nervousness.) 

Paat only joined the team last July when she was called up to replace Ces Molina, who had to sit out of the national team pool trainings due to injury. The veteran spiker, though, quickly impressed during the team’s two-week training camp in Okayama, Japan. 

But she hopes the team can again show its improved form when the Philippines tackles Japan on Tuesday, August 21, at the Bulungan Sports Center. – Rappler.com