VIGAN, Ilocos Sur — Myla Pablo spearheaded a balanced offensive attack as Nxled bounced back in impressive fashion with a commanding 25-17, 25-23, 25-18 victory over the Capital1 Solar Spikers in the PVL On Tour Showdown at the Chavit Coliseum on Saturday.
Coming off a four-set loss to Creamline in its preseason opener in Ilagan City, Isabela, the Chameleons responded with poise and determination to even their record at 1-1. Despite missing reigning PVL MVP Brooke Van Sickle, Nxled showcased its remarkable depth, relying on multiple scoring options and disciplined team play to secure its first win of the tournament.
For Capital1, it was a difficult challenge from the opening whistle. The Solar Spikers entered the match without three of their biggest stars—Bella Belen, Erika Santos, and Vanie Gandler—who are currently away on national team duties. Their absence left the team without much of its usual offensive firepower, forcing the remaining players to shoulder heavier responsibilities against one of the league’s deepest squads.
Nxled Takes Control Early
Nxled wasted little time establishing its dominance in the opening set.
With Myla Pablo setting the tone through aggressive attacks and solid blocking, the Chameleons controlled the pace from the very beginning. Their efficient ball movement, quick transitions, and strong net defense prevented Capital1 from building any offensive rhythm.
The Solar Spikers struggled to find consistent scoring opportunities as Nxled repeatedly converted quality receptions into powerful attacks. The Chameleons eventually cruised to a convincing 25-17 first-set victory, appearing well on their way to an easy afternoon.
However, Capital1 had no intention of folding quietly.
Solar Spikers Refuse to Back Down
Despite operating with a depleted lineup, the Solar Spikers displayed tremendous resilience throughout the second set.
Capital1 tightened its defense and extended numerous rallies, forcing Nxled into several long exchanges that energized the crowd inside the Chavit Coliseum. Every point became a battle as both teams showcased outstanding hustle and relentless floor defense.
The Solar Spikers remained within striking distance for most of the frame, taking advantage of a few Nxled miscues while finding timely contributions from different players.
Still, whenever Capital1 threatened to seize momentum, the Chameleons responded with composure.
Veteran leadership and a deeper rotation ultimately proved to be the difference as Nxled escaped with a hard-fought 25-23 victory to move within one set of completing the sweep.
Jonah Escamillan Delivers the Turning Point
The third set followed a similar script.
Capital1 continued to compete with tremendous heart despite its shortened rotation, refusing to allow Nxled to pull away easily. The Solar Spikers stayed within reach midway through the frame and briefly appeared capable of forcing a fourth set.
But Jonah Escamillan produced one of the biggest sequences of the match.
The young outside hitter unleashed three consecutive power attacks that immediately shifted the momentum back to Nxled. Her final kill extended the Chameleons’ lead to 21-18, creating valuable breathing room during the closing stretch.
From there, Nxled never looked back.
Myla Pablo and MJ Phillips followed with back-to-back points during two spectacular extended rallies that highlighted both squads’ determination and defensive effort. The Chameleons also tightened their blocking, repeatedly denying Capital1’s attacks at the net.
Pablo added another crucial block against Ysa Jimenez that pushed Nxled to match point before EJ Laure fittingly closed the contest with a service ace, sealing the straight-set victory after one hour and 58 minutes of action.
Myla Pablo Earns Player of the Game Honors
Veteran star Myla Pablo once again proved why she remains one of the Premier Volleyball League’s most dependable performers.
She finished with a match-high 17 points, highlighted by four impressive blocks, while providing steady leadership on both ends of the floor to earn Player of the Game honors.
After the victory, Pablo credited the team’s relaxed mindset, discipline, and improved communication for their bounce-back performance.
“We simply enjoyed the game and followed our coaches’ instructions on what we needed to do on the court. We were also happy that we were able to execute everything we had been working on in training over the past few days,” Pablo said in Filipino.
She added that staying connected throughout the match made a significant difference.
“We played without putting pressure on ourselves, and our communication was a big factor. Everyone stayed connected and trusted each other instead of trying to do everything individually.”
COURTESY: PVL
Her leadership was evident throughout the afternoon as she consistently delivered timely points whenever the Solar Spikers threatened to gain momentum.
Balanced Attack Powers Nxled
While Pablo led the scoring, Nxled’s victory was truly a team effort.
Jonah Escamillan contributed 13 points, including two blocks, while providing the offensive spark that helped close out the third set.
Middle blocker MJ Phillips chipped in seven points, using her presence at the net to disrupt Capital1’s offense while contributing offensively.
Jovelyn Fernandez added six markers, Lyann De Guzman scored five, and Chiara Permentilla contributed four, highlighting the Chameleons’ balanced offensive attack.
Even without Brooke Van Sickle in uniform, Nxled demonstrated that it possesses enough depth to compete against any opponent in the league.
Capital1 Shows Heart Despite Missing Stars
Although the Solar Spikers suffered their first loss of the preseason, their performance revealed plenty of positives.
Missing Bella Belen, Erika Santos, and Vanie Gandler significantly limited Capital1’s offensive options, yet the team refused to surrender. Instead, the Solar Spikers battled through every rally and consistently challenged Nxled despite facing one of the league’s strongest lineups.
No Capital1 player reached double figures in scoring, underscoring the difficulty of replacing three elite offensive weapons.
Shaya Adorador led the Solar Spikers with six points, while Trisha Genesis, Sydney Niegos, and Ysa Jimenez each contributed five markers.
The team also received encouraging performances from its newcomers.
Rookie libero Detdet Pepito impressed in her professional debut with excellent floor defense and composed passing that kept numerous rallies alive. Fellow rookie Khy Cepada added four points, showing flashes of offensive potential that could become valuable as the preseason continues.
While the result was disappointing, the Solar Spikers demonstrated resilience that could benefit them once their complete roster becomes available.
Nxled Dominates the Numbers
The statistics reflected Nxled’s superiority in several key areas.
The Chameleons outscored Capital1 45-34 in attacks, demonstrating their ability to consistently finish plays.
They also controlled the net with a commanding 10-3 advantage in blocks, frustrating the Solar Spikers throughout the match. At the service line, Nxled maintained another edge with five aces compared to Capital1’s single ace.
Although the Chameleons committed 20 unforced errors, they offset those mistakes by capitalizing on Capital1’s miscues, collecting 16 points off opponent errors while executing more efficiently during the match’s most crucial moments.
Momentum Moving Forward
The victory provides an important confidence boost for Nxled after its opening defeat against Creamline. More importantly, it showed that the Chameleons possess the depth, chemistry, and versatility needed to remain competitive even without one of their biggest stars in Brooke Van Sickle.
For Capital1, the straight-set loss highlighted the challenges of competing without several national team standouts. Nevertheless, the Solar Spikers displayed determination and promising performances from both veterans and rookies, giving the coaching staff plenty of optimism as the PVL On Tour continues.
As the preseason progresses, Nxled will aim to build on this momentum, while Capital1 looks forward to becoming a much stronger and more complete squad once Bella Belen, Erika Santos, and Vanie Gandler return to the lineup. Saturday’s showdown in Vigan ultimately proved that depth and teamwork can be just as valuable as star power, with Myla Pablo leading the Chameleons to an emphatic bounce-back victory.
