POLOMOLOK, South Cotabato – Nxled head coach Ettore Guidetti believes the Chameleons made the right choice in selecting Irah Jaboneta in the 2026 Premier Volleyball League Rookie Draft.
Holding the fifth overall pick, Nxled chose the versatile former University of the Philippines standout after she spent a week training with the team before the draft.
Jaboneta quickly justified that decision, playing a key role in the Chameleons’ bounce-back after their opening-game loss to Creamline. She helped Nxled secure consecutive victories over Capital1 and Galeries Tower.
The 26-year-old converted libero recorded nine excellent digs in Nxled’s 25-17, 25-23, 25-18 victory over the Solar Spikers in Vigan. She followed that up with 12 excellent receptions and six excellent digs in a 25-23, 25-23, 25-20 sweep of the Highrisers on Thursday at the Polomolok Gymnasium here.
“Well, I have to say that she’s confirming all my expectations about my first pick in the draft,” said Guidetti after the win over Galeries Tower.
“She’s playing great, she’s absolutely a person fully focused on volleyball. I’m blessed every single day for the choice I made. I really love the way she is, not only as a consistent libero but as a person. She’s really into the team, everybody trusts her,” he added.
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Jaboneta attributed her strong start to playing without putting too much pressure on herself. She said she has been enjoying every moment on the court, believing she performs at her best when she is simply having fun.
She admitted that adjusting to her new team was not easy at first, but said the trust and support of her teammates helped her settle into Nxled’s system.
“Sa totoo lang po nag-e-enjoy lang po talaga ako sa loob ng court. ‘Yun nga sabi ko nung last interview, less pressure lang po sa’kin kasi mas kapag nag-e-enjoy lang ako, parang nagagawa ko nang tama ‘yung trabaho ko,” said Jaboneta.
“Makikita naman po kung gaano ako nag-e-enjoy sa court. Ganun din outside the court. Kasi ‘yung energy or ‘yung tiwala nila, nadadala ko po sa loob ng court. Noong una, nahihirapan din po talaga ako sa adjustments ko. Kasi syempre po, kinikilala ko pa po sila inside and outside the court. Parang nahihiya pa ako, naiilang pa ako, pero mas nagiging comfortable na po ako,” she continued.
Despite her impressive start, Jaboneta knows she still has plenty to improve.
She hopes to become more consistent while fully embracing her role as a libero, leaving behind the mindset of an outside hitter and continuing to develop the defensive instincts required by her new position.
“Consistency po talaga and dapat i-own ko po ‘yung role ko. Siyempre po converted ako, so kailangan wala na ‘yung mindset na papalo, kailangan kung ano ‘yung trabaho, gawin,” she said.
“So marami pa akong kailangang i-trabaho po kasi iba-iba po ‘yung kalaban namin, iba iba ‘yung kakahayaan nila as spikers, as players, so every game po kailangan paghandaan talaga. ‘Yun ‘yung challenge sa’kin as libero.”
