TWO games into the PVL on Tour, Nxled has somehow turned a shock draft lottery loss into their three-year-old franchise’s biggest wins yet.
The Chameleons held the best chances to land the No. 1 pick in the 2025 PVL Rookie Draft, presumed to be three-time UAAP MVP Bella Belen at the time, at 40 percent.
READ: Nxled proves win over Petro Gazz no fluke by taking down Choco Mucho
As the balls were drawn, though, Nxled slid all the way down to the fourth overall pick — a tough consolation in the aftermath of a two-win campaign in the 2024-25 All-Filipino Conference.
Still, the cellar-dwelling Chameleons made the most of draft night by selecting 23-year-old ex-Ateneo captain Lyann de Guzman at No. 4 and Adamson winger Mayang Nuique at No. 13.
Completing their offseason haul was the acquisition of former Cignal opposite spiker Jov Fernandez.
Nxled hits the jackpot
Nxled head coach Ettore Guidetti always had de Guzman as the team’s top option after sliding to number four.
“She is super amazing. I have been the one choosing her as first pick-up,” the Italian mentor said.
“She showed to us, to every one of us, a huge leadership and that's super important.”
And just about a month since 'losing' draft lottery, de Guzman has turned the Chameleons into winners.
The ex-Blue Eagles skipper is the PVL on Tour’s leading scorer after Week 2 with 45 total points — 21 in the five-set upset win over Petro Gazz and 24 past Choco Mucho in four sets.
She also normed 10 receptions and 8.5 digs.
Trusting the process
Not once did it cross de Guzman’s mind to be a scoring machine from the get-go.
Sure, she wanted to deliver for Nxled as soon as she could. But more than anything, her immediate goal was to seize every opportunity to learn the ropes in the pros.
“Nu’ng pinili ako, very excited ako kasi nasa isip ko talaga nu’n na parang very healthy competition ang mangyayari sa team namin,” de Guzman said.
“’Yung mga ates ko, beterano na yan eh. Mas matagal na sila sa PVL and they know kung paano maging mas smart maglaro and 'yung system ni coach.
“Ako siyempre, pasimula pa lang, so ina-adapt ko pa. Slowly, mas natututunan ko na yung bagong system and I’m very happy kasi marami pa akong natututunan.”
By learning the system and trusting the process in her new chapter as a pro, de Guzman believes she’ll soon be armed with the tools to become a seasoned competitor in no time.
“I’ll just enjoy the game, tiwala lang, and of course, sa help ng mga ates ko, mas napapadali yung journey ko dito sa PVL,” she said.
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