MANILA, Philippines — A new team, a new system and another major challenge await Myla Pablo—but after nearly a decade in Philippine volleyball, the veteran outside hitter has one message for anyone wondering whether she still has plenty left to give: she’s not done yet.
As the Premier Volleyball League celebrates its 10th anniversary, Pablo is also marking a personal milestone—her 10th season in the league that helped establish her as one of the country’s most recognizable and dependable volleyball stars.
Now with the Nxled Chameleons, the 32-year-old veteran is embracing another chapter in a career defined by longevity, championship success and an ability to remain relevant through the sport’s changing generations.
“I’ve been playing in the PVL for almost 10 years now, and I’m just grateful that I still have a team that trusts me and gives me the opportunity to play,” Pablo said in Filipino.
A New Home, But a Familiar Championship Core
Pablo’s move to Nxled came as part of a major roster shake-up involving several former Petro Gazz standouts. In January, Nxled officially acquired Pablo alongside three-time PVL MVP Brooke Van Sickle, two-time Finals MVP MJ Phillips and setter Jules Tolentino, transforming the Chameleons into a team loaded with experience and championship pedigree.
For Pablo, the transition meant joining a new organization while bringing with her the experience of a Petro Gazz core that captured both the All-Filipino and Reinforced Conference titles in the previous season.
She previously expressed confidence that the championship-tested group could blend well with Nxled’s younger players under Italian coach Ettore Guidetti—a combination that could help accelerate the Chameleons’ rise in the PVL.
But a new team also means new adjustments.
The Next Test: Nxled Must Find Its Rhythm
Nxled enters the upcoming Invitational challenge still searching for greater consistency and chemistry. The Chameleons split their four matches in the PVL on Tour preseason, and Pablo said the team has been working to strengthen its connection with new main setter Gel Cayuna while addressing communication lapses on the court.
The challenge becomes even bigger with Van Sickle sidelined by a shoulder injury, putting more pressure on Nxled’s remaining veterans and emerging stars to step up as the competition intensifies.
For Pablo, however, the situation is not something to fear—it is another opportunity to prove her value.
Nxled is also preparing to test itself against international opposition, including Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City and Thailand’s EST Cola, giving the Chameleons a chance to measure their progress against different styles of volleyball.
Still Producing When It Matters
Pablo’s experience isn’t just about what she has accomplished in the past.
During Nxled’s first victory in the PVL on Tour in July, Pablo delivered 17 points built on 12 attacks, four blocks and an ace in a straight-sets win over Capital1—another reminder that the veteran can still make a significant impact when called upon.
Official PVL records also reflect the body of work she has built throughout her career. Pablo has played hundreds of sets and accumulated hundreds of points, with her profile listing 746 attack points and 103 blocks among her career totals.
Her resume speaks for itself: two-time Conference MVP, four-time champion and five-time Best Outside Spiker, achievements earned across an era in which Philippine women’s volleyball has grown dramatically in popularity and competition.
A Decade Later, ‘Typhoon Pablo’ Is Still Blowing
From the days of the Shakey’s V-League to the modern professional PVL, Pablo has witnessed—and helped shape—the evolution of Philippine volleyball.
Ten years later, the league is bigger, the competition is deeper and younger stars are constantly emerging. Yet Pablo remains determined to compete.
That may be the most compelling part of her story heading into another season: this isn’t simply a farewell tour for a veteran celebrating a milestone.
With Nxled trying to build chemistry, international opponents looming and one of its biggest stars temporarily unavailable, Pablo could once again find herself in a position where experience matters most.
The questions now are clear: Can the veteran leader help hold Nxled together through its growing pains? And when the biggest moments arrive, will the familiar force once known as “Typhoon Pablo” still have another storm left to unleash?
If her recent performances—and her determination—are any indication, Myla Pablo isn’t ready to let the next generation take the spotlight without a fight.
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