Ettore Guidetti points to Petro Gazz blueprint as Nxled navigates rough patch in PVL

The Nxled Chameleons opened their 2026 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference campaign in impressive fashion, racing to three straight victories and positioning themselves as one of the early contenders in the tournament.

However, momentum has stalled in recent days after the Chameleons absorbed back-to-back defeats, the latest a four-set setback at the hands of the Akari Chargers, 25-18, 25-23, 23-25, 25-22, at the FilOil EcoOil Centre on Tuesday, February 24.

Despite the dip in form, head coach Ettore Guidetti remains composed, choosing perspective over panic as the tournament enters a critical stretch.

“I consider the game against Galeries a mistake. This one is not a mistake. This one, we played our volleyball – but not at our best. And honestly, Akari played a very, very, very good game,” Guidetti said after the match.

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The Italian tactician acknowledged that consecutive losses inevitably bring added scrutiny and pressure, especially in a tightly contested conference where every win carries weight in the race for playoff seeding. Still, Guidetti stressed that the situation is far from dire and pointed to recent league history as proof that early setbacks do not necessarily define a team’s ceiling.

“Yes, sure, there is pressure. But I don’t think that is a mental problem. In this moment, we have to focus on playing good together and being ready to play our best in the final part. We don’t have to forget that the Petro Gazz Angels are not famous for winning every single game. Last season, for example, they lost four games, but they arrived to win the Final,” he added.

Guidetti’s comparison is rooted in fact. During the 2025 All-Filipino Conference, Petro Gazz entered the playoff phase as the sixth seed — hardly the profile of a favorite — yet surged at the right time and eventually captured the championship. Their run underscored the importance of peaking late rather than dominating the elimination round.

GUIDETTI KNOWS BALL 🏐

There’s a reason why NXLED head coach Ettore Guidetti wasn’t too fazed by the challenge of handling Petro Gazz’ former champion core.

If you’re a fan of international volleyball, then some of Guidetti’s former aces from the youth level to the… pic.twitter.com/mTBmCsfPkY

— John Mark Garcia (@johnmarkdg_) February 3, 2026

For Nxled, the challenge now is rediscovering the cohesion and sharp execution that defined their early victories. Against Akari, the Chameleons showed flashes of resilience, particularly in the third set where they extended the match, but struggled to sustain consistency in key stretches. Service pressure and defensive discipline — hallmarks of their opening wins — wavered at crucial moments.

Guidetti, however, remains unwavering in his belief in the roster he has assembled. With new additions bolstering depth and internal competition in training, he sees the current adversity as an opportunity for growth rather than a red flag.

“I know that they can do it. With the addition of very good players in Nxled, we have the possibility to train better. We just have to train a little better and be ready, because it looks like everybody is playing really, really good against us.

“We know if we play to our standard, we can beat basically anyone. But if we don’t, we can lose like anyone else – because this is volleyball,” Guidetti concluded.

Currently sitting fourth in the standings, Nxled remain firmly in the mix as the conference heads toward its decisive phase. With parity across the league and contenders trading blows weekly, the margin for error remains slim — but so does the gap between teams.

The Chameleons will look to halt their slide and regain momentum when they take on the Choco Mucho Flying Titans on Tuesday, March 3, once again at the FilOil EcoOil Centre. The matchup presents both a test and an opportunity: a chance to steady their campaign, reaffirm their identity, and prove that their early-season promise was no fluke.

If Guidetti’s faith proves well-placed, Nxled’s recent losses may ultimately serve as the spark that sharpens them for a deeper postseason push.

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