PVL: Nxled Chameleons hope to make big leap in coming season

Nxled Chameleons’ Dani Ravena and Jho Maraguinot.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — With longer preparation this time plus the addition of rising star Ivy Lacsina, the Nxled Chameleons aim to rise from the ashes in the 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) season.

After showing a lot of promise in his first Philippine coaching stint last year with four wins in the second All-Filipino Conference, Japanese coach Taka Minowa has a modest goal of reaching at least the No.6 spot in the first conference starting in February.

“Top six,” Minowa told reporters when asked about his modest goal for Nxled. “Actually, about the preparation compared to the last conference, it’s getting better. I hope they can improve and we can be a top-six team.”

Minowa, the husband of Jaja Santiago, is now juggling his coaching job as the director of their sister team’s volleyball program, Akari. But the Chameleons are grateful for the Japanese coach’s commitment and dedication to developing their young team.

“We’re still very blessed and fortunate because coach Taka stayed with us and the progress of the team was very good in a way nobody expected, even ourselves, we never expected to work well together as much as we did last conference,” said team captain Dani Ravena.

Nxled may have put up a gallant stand in its debut conference last season but it won’t stop the Chameleons from working their way to the top now that they have more time to learn and bond with the talented Japanese coach.

“He still put us in a phase where we should not belittle ourselves even we are young. But we can’t be also satisfied with what we did last conference. We’re still trying to learn as much as we can, despite being a new team. And now, joining in a new conference, we’re still very eager to win as much as games as we can,” said Ravena in Filipino. 

“Now, I think we’re more prepared and we’re now more cohesive with the addition of Ivy, such a talented player. We’re not rushing our progress but at the end of the day, this is a competition, regardless if you are a young or veteran player,  it’s all on you guys who will execute the instruction of the coaches. The most important thing is our mindset as individuals and how will be helping the team together,” she added.

Nxled Chameleons coach Taka Minowa. –PVL PHOTO

The captain libero believes having almost the same age as her teammates made it easier for them to form a strong bond and it will also help them build chemistry right away with Lacsina, who showed her versatility as a spiker and middle blocker for F2 Logistics before it disbanded.

“Experience is the best teacher because we have ate Jho (Maraguinot) and even Ivy, we can look up to her because of her achievements since high school. And as a captain, I look at how we’ll work well as individuals and individual skills and excelling in different departments are no longer important for us. Because we want to work well together and fill in our lapses through teamwork,” said Ravena. “Coach Taka told us that no matter what, at the end of the day. the person on your left and right will be the one helping you. We have to continue building our chemistry.”

“We’ll still put up a fight even if we’re facing veteran teams.  And we’re just very blessed and fortunate to play for this team built by sir Chris [Tiu] so we won’t put their efforts to waste and we will give our one hundred percent every day,” she added.

In Nxled’s second season, Ravena is excited to continue unlocking the full potential of their team after the player movements mostly from F2 Logistics, which made the competition stronger and better as Strong Group Athletics also joined the league, while a 12th team is still in the works with the PVL.

“Sobrang excited kami kasi ngayon wala e bilog ang bola talaga, if more so now than ever. We’re just very blessed na nakikita natin yung growth ng PH volleyball and nakikita rin natin na mas gusto pa ng teams magimprove which is a good thing kasi kaming mga bata gusto pa naming maexperience pa dumami yung learnings namin kahit magkakalaban sa court,” Ravena said. “We’re just here to learn what we can, to be the best player that we can be with the help of our coaches.”