Ivy Lacsina joins the Nxled Chameleons training for the first time.
MANILA, Philippines — Ivy Lacsina relished her first practice as a Nxled Chameleon with Japanese coach Taka Minowa and her new teammates making her feel at home.
Lacsina on Monday attended her first training with Nxled in preparation for the 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) season starting in February.
Coming from a Holiday break, the 6-foot-1 versatile player admitted she is still adjusting under Minowa’s guidance.
“It’s super hard because there are a lot of adjustments. My legs hurt but coach Taka said it’s part of the process. I just need timing in everything I do,” said Lacsina in Filipino in a video posted by the Chameleons. “Coach Taka is guiding me even though it’s my first day and he teaches me everything so I feel welcome here at Nxled.”
READ: PVL: Kamille Cal can’t wait for reunion with Ivy Lacsina
Lacsina, who was a vital member of the disbanded F2 Logistics, revealed that she chose Nxled because of Minowa, whose approach is reminiscent of the National University’s Japanese system, which was instrumental in the Lady Bulldogs’ perfect title run in the UAAP Season 84 women’s volleyball tournament two years ago.
“The first thing I considered was the system because coach Taka is here and I think I wanted to go back to the Japanese style, which was NU’s system. I think it’s a good system for me as a player because we were successful when I was at NU,” she said.
Who’s excited to see their connection back on the court? ✨
BECAUSE WE ARE! 🖐️#NxledLockedIn 💚🦎🩶 pic.twitter.com/IwRjIcPRIZ
— Nxled Chameleons (@nxledchameleons) January 16, 2024
Besides Minowa, the 24-year-old Lacsina is also excited with her reunion with college teammate Kamille Cal.
“It didn’t feel that I came from a different team because we were almost the same age in this team and Cal is also here. She also helps me so I won’t be shy,” she said.
Lacsina, who thrived as a spiker during Kianna Dy’s absence in the second All-Filipino Conference, promises to bring her versatility and maximize her potential as a Chameleon.
“What I can bring here at Nxled is I can play in different positions and I can do and contribute a lot of things to my team,” Lacsina said. “But of course, I will take it one step at a time. Since this is my second year I have to keep on improving all my skills and I have to be more mature and be a leader. I know that I can do those things at Nxled.”
Nxled had a decent first PVL tournament, finishing ninth out of 12 teams with a 4-7 record in the second All-Filipino.