PVL: Nxled ‘fingers crossed’ on Jonah Sabete-Escamillan injury scare

MANILA — Nxled head coach Ettore Guidetti is keeping his fingers crossed that Jonah Sabete-Escamillan’s injury scare is “nothing serious,” as the initial assessment results have offered some reason for optimism.

Sabete-Escamillan was stretchered off the court in their sister team affair against Akari, where they eventually won, 27-25, 25-22, 26-24, and clinch a semifinals spot in the 2026-27 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference Siklab series.

“They look all negative,” said the Italian coach, referring to the initial assessment results. “So we have a big hope that it’s nothing serious. So this is why we are smiling a little more.”

Despite securing a crucial victory, Guidetti admitted that the result was bittersweet, describing it as “one of his saddest wins” in his long coaching career due to the incident.

“We keep our fingers crossed. We pray. And then we will have a medical investigation in the next days to be sure one hundred percent. And not only because of the negative test that we have done,” he said.

EJ Cariño stepped in for Nxled, producing nine points in total in the three-set win. She lauded her teammate, whom she described as hardwoking — a sentiment which Brooke Van Sickle echoed.

“Knowing Ate Jonah, siyempre, sobrang hardworking niya talaga every training, every game. Bibigay niya talaga ‘yung best niya,” said Cariño.

“She [Jonah] is a hard worker. She’s one of the hardest working teammates I’ve ever played with. And it’s really sad and that just goes to show that you don’t know what’s gonna happen. When you step on the court, anything can happen, right? So, it’s just, I’m praying for her health,” said the three-time league MVP.