Nxled newcomer Jov Fernandez is finally hitting her stride with her new team, turning in another solid performance to power the Chameleons to a franchise-best start in the 2025 PVL On Tour on Tuesday night.
After flying under the radar in Nxled’s first two games despite solid outings, Fernandez grabbed the spotlight on Tuesday night, steering the squad to a gritty 26-24, 25-23, 25-23 win over Galeries Tower at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
“Inuumpisahan po talaga namin sa training lagi. Siguro hard work and then nag-pay off, pag nanalo bonus po talaga sa amin,” said the opposite spiker from Far Eastern University.
Fernandez fired 14 points — 13 coming from the attack line — as she emerged as a key weapon in the Chameleons’ sudden rise in the preseason tilt, where they now share the top spot in Pool A with PLDT, both holding identical 3-0 records.
The 24-year-old opposite spiker spent over a year — two full seasons, to be exact — with Cignal, where she saw limited playing time and was rarely utilized.
Fernandez was quietly picked up by Nxled in the offseason, a low-key move that has since paid major dividends for the rising squad.
The former UAAP Best Opposite Spiker admitted she initially struggled to adjust to the system of Italian head coach Ettore Guidetti but eventually found her footing, thanks to the guidance of the coaching staff and the support of her veteran teammates.
“Siyempre po sa una, medyo nahihirapan ako kasi si Coach Etorre [Guidetti], he’s an Italian coach. And andiyan din naman ‘yung mga ibang coaches and mga Ates ko para tulungan ako para mag-adjust,” said Fernandez.
Averaging 12.33 points in the team’s first three matches, Fernandez is looking to build on her early momentum and continue improving as Nxled pushes forward in the PVL On Tour.
“Ako lagi kong sinasabi sa mga teammates ko na lagi natin tiyagain, patience lang hanggang sa makuha natin and sabi ko, dapat hard work lang lagi.”
