A rough first outing back for the new PVL champions.
Nxled pulled the upset rug on Petro Gazz, 25-23, 19-25, 19-25, 25-15, 15-10, in the PVL on Tour on Saturday at the Batangas City Sports Center.
READ: Isa Molde leads Choco Mucho past Galeries Tower in four sets
A 6-1 run from a 9-all deadlock in the fifth-set tiebreak saw Nxled complete the biggest upset yet in the preseason tilt.
The Chameleons took full advantage of the absences of Fil-American MVP duo Brooke Van Sickle and MJ Phillips by parading their new-look frontline.
Nxled rookies Lyann de Guzman and Mayang Nuique, drafted fourth and 13th overall, breathed new life into a struggling Chameleons offense along with mainstays EJ Laure-Cariño (12 points) and Chiara Permentilla (10 points).
Jov Fernandez tallied nine points, including three blocks, in her Nxled debut as spiker-turned-libero Lucille Almonte posted 11 receptions.
This becomes Nxled's 12th franchise win in 44 all-time PVL matches, including the preseason, since joining the league in the 2023 Second All-Filipino Conference.
It is also their first-ever league victory against the Angels.
Ran out of gas?
Myla Pablo led four Angels in double figures, falling two receptions shy of the PVL on Tour's second triple-double with 16 points, 10 digs and eight receptions.
Nicole Tiamzon maximized her extended minutes as a starter with 15 points, ahead of mainstays Jonah Sabete (14 points) and Marian Buitre (10 points).
The Angels also used its preseason opener to field two of its youngest players, both of whom are setters, in rookie Jules Tolentino and sophomore Donnalyn Paralejas.
Paralejas got the start but it was Tolentino who took on playmaking duties for the most part with 17 excellent sets.
Petro Gazz will close out the Batangas leg against Galeries Tower (4 p.m.) as Nxled looks to go two-for-two versus Choco Mucho.
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