Nxled Chameleons’ Filipino-Italian Chiara Permentilla during a PVL All-Filipino Conference game. -PVL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Chiara Permentilla is making the most of her Italian connection with coach Ettore Guidetti with the new Nxled tactician instilling a fighting mentality within their team in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference.

The Filipino-Italian spiker is relieved that they no longer have a language barrier with their new coach, but sometimes her coach gives her instructions in Italian to share with the Chameleons.

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“There’s definitely a connection, and sometimes, during games and training, if he wants to tell me something quickly, he’ll say it in Italian to make it faster,” said Permentilla, who put up a solid game with 21 points, 15 receptions, and 10 digs in their 15-25, 17-25, 25-22, 22-25 loss to PLDT on Tuesday at Philsports Arena.

SCHEDULE: PVL All-Filipino Conference 2024-2025

“I’m very grateful that he doesn’t treat me differently just because I’m also from Italy; he’s very fair. The first time I met him, he told me, ‘I don’t care where you’re from or what type of player you are. I only care about what you do on the court and how you help your teammates.’ He observes everything,” she added.

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Guidetti added he’s also using Italian when speaking to Permentilla at times so the opponents won’t figure out their play. 

“It helps to give one of my players a signal in a language only we understand. Also, you know, you all speak English better than I do. So, whenever I give instructions in English, especially loudly, the other team—the blockers or front row—can catch on to what I’m saying. Sometimes it’s just better to use a little Italian trick,” said the new Nxled coach.

Nxled coach Ettore Guidetti. –PVL PHOTO

The Italian coach said they know that they could close the gap and compete against the top teams in the league, stressing that the Chameleons just need to keep on fighting and learning from their mistakes.

“If we put 100 percent of our effort, obviously, because there are people maybe higher than us, they can spike harder than us, but we can work on the system itself. We can completely cut down the amount of mistakes and then it starts rising the fact that this is a defensive and fighting team,” said Guidetti. “So, we can be part of the conference that really matters. That is something that we want to bring with us after this game.”

READ: PVL:  Chiara Permentilla has best game since long return from injury

Guidetti, who coached VNL star Isabelle Haak and other leagues in Sweden, Poland, Romania, and Italy, is honored to be part of PVL’s rise.

“I think that this start of the new conference is with a higher level. I see a lot of teams that really reinforce the team, besides the fact of not having a foreigner. But the teams, they look better, so it’s rising year by year, season by season. This is something very good. Obviously, if we start using different rules, the level will develop immediately,” said the Italian.

“If we want to develop the local players, they have to play. About this, I agree. Even if we are not expressing the best volleyball in the world, but right now, it’s super important to have an All-Filipino conference.”

Permentilla, as a veteran spiker, in turn vows to lead by example for the determined Chameleons.

“I really want to help the team improve in any way I can. Coach always reminds us that what happens in the game is something we can’t control—we can only control what we do every day in training. So, if you give 100% in training, it will definitely show in the game,” said Permentilla.