Nxled sweeps undermanned Capital1 to spoil Detdet Pepito's PVL debut

Despite missing Brooke Van Sickle, Nxled was still as formidable as it swept Capital1, 25-17, 25-23, 25-18, to break through in the 2026 PVL On Tour on Saturday at the Chavit Coliseum in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.

Myla Pablo carried the scoring load for the Chameleons with 17 points while Jonah Sabete-Escamillan dazzled with an all-around outing of 13 markers, 17 digs, and eight receptions as they bounced back from a previous loss to Creamline.

Nxled's win also spoiled the much-awaited professional debut of Detdet Pepito, the top overall pick of the most recent PVL Draft, as well as fellow rookie Khy Cepada and new recruit Jaja Maraguinot.

"Sobrang happy kami kasi nanalo kami and na-apply namin 'yung mga training namin the past few days and ayun nga, 'yung first game namin against Creamline, dami naming errors," Pablo said.

"So ngayon, na-maintain namin 'yung errors namin and sabi ng mga coaches, gawin lang namin 'yung mga sinasabi nila."

Lyann De Guzman stepped up to fill the void left by Van Sickle, firing a long down-the-line hit from the left wing to bring Nxled to set point, 24-21, in the second frame.

Capital1 refused to go away quietly as Cepada ignited a late rally with a kill from the left side, sparking a 2-0 run that trimmed the deficit to just one point. But coming out of a timeout, Sabete-Escamillan answered perfectly by going in between the hands of Ezra Madrigal and Pauline Gaston as they seized a commanding 2-0 lead.

Nxled just pulled away in the third set with Pablo taking advantage of a single block from Capital1 to deliver a power kill and a 16-12 cushion before an Ypril Tapia attack error from the back row gave Nxled a 20-17 edge.

The Chameleons wrapped it up with a 5-1 closing run with Pablo denying Ysa Jimenez on the right side for the match point and EJ Carino sealing it from the service deck with an ace.

Capital1 relied on Shaya Adorador, who had a team-high six points alongside nine digs and eight receptions, in the absence of the troika of Bella Belen, Vanie Gandler, and Erika Santos.

—JKC, GMA News