The Nxled Chameleons made sure its first win of the 2026 PVL Invitational Conference would be a statement.
The Chameleons put together one of their sharpest performances of the tournament so far, sweeping defending champion PLDT High Speed Hitters, 25‑19, 25‑22, 25‑20, on Tuesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
It was an immediate turnaround for Nxled, which opened its campaign with a four‑set loss to the Creamline Cool Smashers on Monday. Instead of carrying that defeat into its second game, the Chameleons responded with a much cleaner performance against one of the tournament favorites.
PLDT, meanwhile, absorbed its first defeat of the Invitationals after opening the tournament with a four‑set victory over EST Cola.
Nxled Rises
The biggest difference came in the service and defensive game. Nxled consistently put PLDT under pressure and made it difficult for the High Speed Hitters to establish their usual offensive rhythm.
That pressure eventually paid off in the third set.
PLDT had a 16‑14 advantage and appeared ready to extend the match, but Nxled suddenly found another gear. A combination of attacks from MJ Phillips and Lyann De Guzman powered an 8‑0 run, turning the deficit into a 22‑16 lead.
PLDT managed to slow the bleeding, but the Chameleons had already taken control. Nxled kept its composure through the final exchanges before a Leila Cruz attack error gave the Chameleons the match.
Superb Effort All Around
Phillips finished with 13 points, highlighted by 4 aces and 1 block, while Myla Pablo contributed 12 points and 9 excellent digs.
De Guzman added 10 points and nine digs, while Jonah Sabete‑Escamilla provided another reliable option with nine points and 15 excellent receptions.
Setter Gel Cayuna also helped keep Nxled’s offense moving with 15 excellent sets and three points.
Savi Davison remained the High Speed Hitters’ main offensive weapon, finishing with 20 points and 16 excellent receptions.
The victory was particularly encouraging for head coach Ettore Guidetti, who saw clear progress from his team after its opening‑day defeat.
“Well, today, I think that simply confirms that we are playing pretty good volleyball. Yesterday, I should say that we played another pretty good match. And today, we’re confirming our pretty moment of volleyball playing. We’re getting better,” Guidetti said.
“Today, definitely, the block and defense [have] worked better compared to yesterday. We served really, really much better. And this is a connection that helps a lot if you want to win against a very good team,” he added.
What’s Next
Nxled will now have a day to recover before returning to action against Thailand’s EST Cola on Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
The defending champions will try to get back on track against winless Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday, September 3, at 4 p.m.
