BATANGAS City – Two explosive performances don’t instantly make a volleyball superstar. But in Lyann De Guzman’s case, they might just be the opening act of a remarkable rise.
The Nxled Chameleons’ prized rookie once again turned heads with a commanding display of power, poise and purpose, leading her team to a stunning straight-set victory over the Choco Mucho Flying Titans, 25-20, 26-28, 27-25, 25-22 in the PVL On Tour at the Batangas City Sports Center here on Sunday night.
After igniting the league with a 21-point eruption in Nxled’s thrilling five-set shocker over Petro Gazz Saturday – a game that instantly stamped her arrival – De Guzman followed it up with another high-octane outing. She delivered 24 points on a barrage of thunderous kills, including eight of the team’s last 15 points in the opening frame to fuel a fiery comeback from a 10-13 deficit.
But it was her final ace — the last of three — that sealed the emotional two-hour, 11-minute victory. Unaware that her serve had barely kissed the baseline, she triumphantly raised both arms when the point was confirmed, then dropped to her knees in tears, revealing the human side of a rising phenom poised to take the league by storm.
She had been shackled, checked and denied multiple times throughout the match. Yet each setback only strengthened her resolve – to fight harder, deliver when it mattered, and lead the Chameleons to a place they had never been before.
“Excited ako sa team na ’to. Nakikita ko talaga ’yung potential – alam kong aabot kami sa Final Four sa tournament na ’to,” she said after notching her second straight Best Player of the Game award.
That, however, remains to be seen – with growing parity across the league and every match increasingly unpredictable, nothing is guaranteed.
More than her scoring prowess, however, it’s De Guzman’s all-around brilliance that is fueling her meteoric rise. Her volleyball IQ, court sense, and timing seem beyond her years, while her energy and hunger are impossible to miss.
She added nine excellent digs and 12 receptions against Choco Mucho, besting her eight-dig, nine-reception effort in the Petro Gazz stunner – proof that she’s as formidable on defense as she is on offense.
At just 23, the former Ateneo stalwart has quickly evolved from rookie hopeful to league game-changer. Her fiery presence, ability to deliver in clutch moments, and relentless drive have made her the focal point of an Nxled squad that has taken down two of the PVL’s most established teams to emerge as the solo leader in Pool A.
Skipper Chiara Permentilla also shone for the second straight game with 19 points, majority clutch hits, while Jovelyn Fernandez turned in a quiet but equally impressive 14-point performance and EJ Carino and Krich Macaslang chipped six and five points, respectively.
But it wasn’t just De Guzman, Permentilla or Fernandez who shone. Another rookie, May Ann Nuique, also rose to the occasion. Re-inserted late in the fourth set, the former Adamson Lady Falcon made an immediate impact with a crucial block on Isa Molde, sparking the Chameleons’ decisive 3-0 finishing run.
That momentum shift came right after Aduke Ogunsanya squandered Choco Mucho’s slim 22-21 lead with a costly service error.
Permentilla then followed up with a composed hit after a brief rally, before De Guzman iced the match with a clutch delivery from behind the service line – sealing Nxled’s second straight giant-slaying win in emphatic fashion.
It was a tough defeat for Choco Mucho, which slipped to a 1-1 record. Isa Molde led the Flying Titans with 16 points, while Aduke Ogunsanya added 10 markers, including three kill blocks on De Guzman. Royse Tubino and Mean Mendrez chipped in nine points each, rookie Jen Villegas tallied seven markers, while Des Cheng and Aichik Juegos contributed six points apiece.
Despite the loss, Deanna Wong turned in a strong effort with 26 excellent receptions, outshining her Nxled counterpart Jaja Maraguinot, who finished with 15 excellent sets.
Foiled late in the second set after showcasing explosive endgame brilliance in the opener, De Guzman rose to the occasion once again in the pivotal third. Teaming up with skipper Permentilla, she powered Nxled to a heart-stopping finish and a crucial 2-1 set lead.
De Guzman scored two of the Chameleons’ last five points – none bigger than the set-clinching kill off a scrambling feed from Maraguinot. With composure beyond her years, she hammered the ball just in front of Choco Mucho libero Thang Ponce, sealing the set with a flourish.
Earlier, De Guzman broke a tense 22-all count with a gutsy spike, brushing off an earlier block and a wayward power hit to deliver when it mattered most – proving once more that she thrives under pressure and delivers in defining moments.
