PVL: Nxled punches ticket to semis by beating sister team Akari

MANILA — Nxled swept Akari, 27-25, 25-22, 26-24, to be the first team to secure a semifinals berth in the Siklab series of the 2026-27 PVL All-Filipino Conference on Thursday at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

This also marked the Chameleons’ first Final Four appearance in franchise history.

The match though was marred with injury scares, with Jonah Sabete-Escamillan getting stretchered out of the court, while Ivy Lacsina had a scare after a bad fall in the endgame after trying to catch the ball.

Nxled head coach Ettore Guidetti said they are hoping that Sabete-Escamillan’s leg injury is “not serious.”

“The tests and the PTs I’ve done with Jonah, they look all negative. So we have a big hope that it’s nothing serious. This is why we are smiling a little more,” he said.

Akari challenged Nxled late and even led 23-22, but the Chameleons proved relentless. A Gel Cayuna block knotted the match and a Bang Pineda dig ultimately became a kill to reach match point, 24-23 — the moment when Lacsina had to step out and put ice on her nape.

Ced Domingo saved one match point with a quick kill, 24-all, but a surprise hit from Cayuna and a Cariño attack closed out the match, clinching the semifinals berth for Nxled.

“Today was tough and rough. And so we are really happy that those three points are made for something important,” said Guidetti.

Brooke Van Sickle had 10 points, but had help from Cariño, Myla Pablo,  and MJ Phillips who had nine points each, while Cayuna registered 17 excellent sets and three points.

Meanwhile, Akari’s chances of entering the semis dimmed after the loss.

Eli Soyud paced the losing side with 16 points, while Domingo, who produced late in the game, totaled 10 markers.