BATANGAS CITY — It took Nxled 14 games to collect just two wins in the previous conference. This weekend alone, they’ve already matched that total to kick off the 2025 PVL On Tour.
Fresh off a stunning upset over reigning All-Filipino Conference champion Petro Gazz, the Chameleons followed it up with another statement win, this time toppling perennial contender Choco Mucho in four sets, 25-20, 26-28, 27-25, 25-22, for an impressive 2-0 start in Pool B.
Fourth overall pick Lyann De Guzman once again led the charge, delivering 24 big points — her second consecutive 20-point outing — on 20 attacks, three aces, and one block. She also added nine excellent digs and 12 excellent receptions to power Nxled to the top of the group.
Batangueña team captain Chiara Permentilla, who played a vital role in the Chameleons’ win over Petro Gazz, shone once more in front of her hometown crowd. She tallied 19 points, including nine in the third set, along with 19 excellent receptions.
(C) PVL Images
“I agree 100-percent, in my opinion we played a very good game,” said Chameleons head coach Etorre Guidetti. “We look pretty determined in the first set, especially in the connection between serve and sideout.
“I have to admit that Choco Mucho rose step by step to level, especially in the [last] part of the second set. They made something great to win 28-26. We have done something great too in the third set, this is something really important for us because the last conference, we lost a lot of games in what we call a photo finish. So it was super important for us to gain this,” the Italian mentor added.
Down by a point in the fourth set, Aduke Ogunsanya committed a crucial service error that tied the game at 22-all, giving Nxled the opportunity to pull ahead.
Rookie Mayang Nuique — who recently shifted from middle blocker to opposite spiker — delivered a clutch block on Isa Molde to give the Chameleons the edge.
Permentilla then hammered a kill to push Nxled to match point, before De Guzman sealed the two-hour, 11-minute thriller with a booming service ace.
“The last set, ball by ball, and then at the end, the block scored a huge difference. So I think there’s many, many good things to bring with us and some good indication that we gained from yesterday’s third set and from today’s second set, that we will analyze in the next two weeks and bring with us,” added Guidetti.
Riding high from their win against the Angels, Nxled opened the match with confidence and easily claimed the first set. The Flying Titans, however, battled back to narrowly take the second frame and level the match.
In the third, Permentilla took over once again, helping the Chameleons survive another extended set to move within one set of victory.
Jovelyn Fernandez, another key contributor in the previous win, started the match and chipped in 14 points, including three blocks.
Jaja Maraguinot came off the bench to deliver 15 excellent sets, while Rachel Jorvina continued her steady performance with 20 excellent digs.
Nxled will look to keep its unbeaten run alive when it faces Galeries Tower on July 15.
(C) PVL Images
Meanwhile, Choco Mucho dropped to 1-1 after opening their PVL On Tour campaign with a win against Galeries.
Molde once again led the Flying Titans with 16 points — 14 from attacks — and added nine excellent digs and 14 excellent receptions.
Ogunsanya contributed 10 points, while Mean Mendrez and Royse Tubino had nine each. Rookie Jen Villegas added seven markers in the loss.
The Flying Titans will try to bounce back when they face Farm Fresh on July 12 in Ilagan, Isabela.
