Photo: Premier Volleyball League
Fourth overall pick Lyann De Guzman wasted no time making her mark in the pros, powering the Nxled Chameleons to back-to-back wins in the Batangas leg of the 2025 PVL On Tour over the weekend.
In her debut last Saturday, De Guzman delivered 21 points along with nine excellent receptions and eight excellent digs to lift Nxled past the defending All-Filipino Conference champions Petro Gazz Angels in a thrilling five-set showdown, 25–23, 19–25, 19–25, 25–15, 15–10.
Veteran setter Jaja Maraguinot kept the offense humming with 15 excellent sets and added three points, while libero Rachel Jorvina held down the fort on defense with 15 digs and even scored a rare point.
After falling behind 1–2 in the match, De Guzman stepped up in the fourth set with eight points to force a decider.
In the fifth, the Chameleons gained separation after Krich Macaslang denied AA Adolfo at the net, followed by a De Guzman service ace to make it 11–9.
Then came hometown hero Chiara Permentilla.
With the Batangas crowd behind her, Permentilla unloaded three straight attacks to push Nxled to match point. A service error from De Guzman gave Petro Gazz a glimmer of hope at 14–10, but Permentilla ended it with an off-the-block kill that sent the crowd into a frenzy.
The following day, Nxled proved their opening win was no fluke, stunning the Choco Mucho Flying Titans in four sets, 25–20, 26–28, 27–25, 25–22, at the Batangas City Coliseum.
De Guzman continued her breakout run with 24 points built on 20 attacks, three aces, and a block. She also delivered on the defensive end with 15 excellent receptions and nine digs.
After a strong start, Nxled let the second set slip as Des Cheng rallied Choco Mucho to tie the match at 1–1. But the Chameleons bounced back, narrowly taking the third set and holding firm in the fourth despite trailing 21–22.
A service error from Aduke Ogunsanya tied the score at 22-all, before rookie Mayang Nuique rejected Isa Molde at the net to give Nxled back the lead. Permentilla brought the team to match point, and De Guzman sealed the deal with a service ace.
Permentilla finished with 19 points and 19 excellent receptions at a 70% efficiency clip, while newcomer Jovelyn Fernandez added 14 points in the team’s second straight victory.
Nxled aims for a third consecutive win when it faces the Galeries Tower Highrisers on Tuesday, July 15, 4:00 PM, at the Playtime FilOil Centre.
