MANILA, Philippines — In a dramatic opening for the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference, the revamped Nxled Chameleons secured a hard-fought five-set victory against Farm Fresh, 25-23, 13-25, 21-25, 25-15, 15-12, on Tuesday.
The match served as a high-stakes reunion and tactical chess match between the former core of the Petro Gazz Angels—the tournament’s defending champions who are currently on a leave of absence—and their former championship coach.
Former Allies, New Rivals The offseason saw a major realignment in the PVL:
- The Nxled Haul: Following the Angels’ departure from the conference, three-time MVP Brooke Van Sickle, Myla Pablo, and MJ Phillips joined Nxled under Italian coach Ettore Guidetti.
- The Farm Fresh Shift: Coach Koji Tsuzurabara, who led Petro Gazz to the All-Filipino title last year, signed with Farm Fresh, bringing with him former captain Remy Palma, who now serves as a playing assistant coach.
Battle of Patience The two-hour match was a test of endurance and tactical familiarity. Van Sickle admitted that Coach Koji’s intimate knowledge of their playstyle made scoring exceptionally difficult.
- Standout Performers: Van Sickle led the Chameleons with 20 points and 11 excellent receptions. Myla Pablo, playing as an opposite hitter, contributed 19 points, while MJ Phillips added 13.
- Rookie Boost: Nxled rookie Lyann de Guzman provided a crucial spark off the bench with seven points.
- Defensive Pressure: Van Sickle credited Tsuzurabara for developing a high-pressure defense that forced long rallies. “I definitely think it was a long rally game, and we had to be patient,” she noted after the win.
A Cultural and Professional Shift Nxled, which struggled with a winless campaign in the Reinforced Conference last year, has been instantly transformed by its new “champion” core. Coach Guidetti emphasized that the difference for Nxled this conference is their collective drive to play at the top level consistently.
While the “Chameleons” celebrated their successful debut, the sentiment remained respectful. Myla Pablo expressed joy at seeing Palma and Coach Koji back in the Philippine circuit, highlighting the deep professional bonds forged during their previous championship run.
Nxled looks to maintain this momentum as they aim for the throne left vacant by their former club.