MANILA, Philippines – Doubts were raised when Mylene Paat made it to the national team.
But after an impressive performance in the 18th Asian Games and the AVC Asian Women’s Volleyball Cup, those doubters turned into believers.
Arguably one of the most underrated players in the country today, the 24-year-old Paat has been proving herself since the day she started to play the sport.
Unlike other national team members who were heavily recruited out of high school, Paat flew under the radar and only learned the game in the humble town of Bani in Pangasinan when she was already 16 years old.
Then, she enrolled at the University of Baguio and didn’t play her first official game until she was in second year.
In an inter-collegiate meet against powerhouse schools like University of Santo Tomas and De La Salle University, a scout for Adamson University spotted her and invited her to try her luck with the Lady Falcons.
She was recruited not because of her talent — but because of her height.
“I may not be the best volleyball player on the team, but I want to make sure that I am the most hard working,” said Paat, the soft-spoken spiker who admitted that her meager income goes straight to her family, in a conversation shortly after she made it to the national squad.
“We are not rich. That’s why I’m sacrificing and working hard to support my family through volleyball.”
Her hard work and perseverance was rewarded when she emerged as one of the most outstanding performers for the national team.
In the Asian Games, she played as a marked woman, who has been helping for top gunners Jaja Santiago and Alyssa Valdez carry the scoring cudgels for the Filipinas.
Then, with Santiago leaving for Japan, she completely displayed her full potential and even outscored the seasoned Valdez in their victory over Kazakhstan in the battle for 9th to 10 places of the Asian Cup.
Paat said everything wouldn’t be possible without the support of her coaches and teammates.
“I’m so happy with the trust that my coaches and teammates had given me,” said Paat, who sideliners believe is one of the best lefty opposites in the country together with veterans Aiza Maizo-Pontillas and Jovelyn Gonzaga.
“Playing for the national team is truly an honor. I’m doing it not only for myself or for my family, but also for my country. I’m willing to serve the national team whatever it takes.”
The national team had formally wrapped up its international adventure that took them to Japan, Indonesia and Thailand.
They may have failed to win a single medal, but they struck gold with the international experience they gained and emergence of new heroes.
And one of them is Paat.
A star is born.