The Nxled Chameleons have opened the 2026–27 PVL All-Filipino Conference Siklab Series with three straight wins, and its blocking has been a big reason why. The Chameleons recorded 9 blocks against the PLDT High Speed Hitters, 23 against the Farm Fresh Foxies, and 14 against the Galeries Tower Highrisers.
Head coach Ettore Guidetti said a strong block also makes life easier for his back-row defense.
“It’s pretty clear after the two games that we are very good in blocking. It’s definitely a good help also for the defense because when the block is working well, the work of the defense is definitely simpler,” said Guidetti.
Nxled Practices Are Battles
The Italian coach also credits Nxled’s fast start to how hard the team competes in practice. He said his second unit has improved a lot and is now pushing the starters every day. That group includes EJ Cariño, Jovelyn Fernandez, Lyann De Guzman, Djanel Cheng, Krich Macaslang, and Ranya Musa.
“Well, right now, I noticed that our second starting six really leveled up and really developed. So, normally, during practice, I love to scramble a lot. I love to mix the starting six with the second starting six,” he said.
“But right now, I noticed that, especially a couple of times a week, if I play the first starting six against the second one, they fight more,” he continued.
Guidetti now pits the two units against each other a couple of times a week, especially in the two days before a game. He said the conference’s all-to-play format makes that kind of competition more valuable since every player has a real chance to earn minutes.
“So this is something that I am trying to introduce a couple of times a week, particularly in the two days before a game. It looks to me that they are not only developing technically, but they are also really fighting for their spots,” he said. “The starting six are defending their positions, while the others are trying to take them. And this is a very good part of the all-to-start, all-to-play format of this conference because it allows me to develop all of my players, not just six or seven of them.”
Room for Improvement Still
Guidetti still sees room to grow. The block and defense are fine, but he wants Nxled to be better at siding out.
“So right now, if I have to complain about something [on] my team, it’s never about the block-and-defense phase, but about side-out. In side-out, we can be better, and we are working on it.”
Nxled will next face the Choco Mucho Flying Titans on Tuesday, November 3, at 6:00 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
