Nxled stormed out of the gates with seven unanswered points and, despite a second-set stumble, found its rhythm to carve out a 25-20, 19-25, 25-14, 25-23 victory over Galeries Tower at the Philsports Arena on Saturday, ending the Chameleons' agonizing eight-game skid in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference.
The Chameleons erupted in celebration, as if they had just clinched a championship, after May Luna-Lumahan sealed the match with a soft hit that stunned the Highrisers. But for a team that had long been searching for a victory, the joyous moment was well deserved.
“I’m so happy that we finally got our first win,” said EJ Laure in Filipino, who led Nxled with 19 points, including five kill blocks, to earn the Best Player of the Game honors.
A former Chery Tiggo standout, Laure joined the team just three months ago and had yet to experience the frustration of their struggles. Before this breakthrough, Nxled had endured a league-worst 15-game losing streak, with their last win ironically coming against Galeries Tower in the Reinforced Conference.
Thanks to coach Guidetti Ettore’s unwavering trust and motivation, the Chameleons finally turned things around.
“It's not hard to get along with the team; they gave me such a warm welcome,” added Laure, whose arrival provided not only firepower but also the leadership and composure Nxled had been missing in tight endgame situations.
The win lifted Nxled off the bottom of the 12-team standings, improving to 1-8, while Galeries Tower slipped to 1-9, now occupying the league’s cellar with just two weeks remaining in the preliminaries.
Although the road ahead remains tough, the victory could provide momentum for Nxled as it prepares to face two of the league’s powerhouses, Choco Mucho and Petro Gazz, in their bid for a better ranking before the knockout playoffs.
Chiara Permentilla finished with 14 points, while Luna-Lumahan added 12 in three sets for Nxled. The Chameleons also drew solid contributions from Jaycel delos Reyes, Lycha Ebon and Jaila Atienza, who scored eight, six and five points, respectively.
Jho Maraguinot paced Galeries Tower with 14 points, while Grazie Bombita chipped in 11. The Highrisers also got a combined 29-point effort from Rose Baliton, Ysa Jimenez, Dimdim Pacres and Andrea Marzan.
However, after struggling in the third set, Galeries Tower ran out of steam late in the fourth, their comeback efforts undone by three crucial service errors.
After splitting the first two sets, the third proved to be a crucial turning point, with both teams battling fiercely in a shot-for-shot, dig-for-dig exchange that resulted in an early 5-all count.
However, the Chameleons seized control and shifted the momentum in their favor. Fueled by Permentilla and Luna, they unleashed a dominant 9-2 run, doubling their lead to 14-7 and leaving the Highrisers scrambling to keep up.
As the Chameleons maintained their relentless attack, the Highrisers struggled even more, allowing Nxled to storm ahead to a commanding 23-12 advantage, capped by an Atienza hit.
Galeries Tower managed to save a set point at 14-24, but substitute Mary Anne Esguerra wasted no time making an impact. Coming off the bench, she delivered an off-speed shot that caught the Highrisers' defense off guard, sealing Nxled’s 2-1 set lead and bringing them one step closer to the elusive victory.
Balanced scoring powered the Chameleons’ early dominance, with Laure leading the charge with six points and Ebon contributing five, including the final assault that sealed their commanding first-set victory.
Playing with confidence and composure, the Chameleons strung together points effortlessly, as Laure, Ebon and Permentilla spearheaded a seven-point surge, further aided by an attack error from the Highrisers. Their relentless assault saw them build a commanding 16-6 lead.
Struggling with passing, the Highrisers found it difficult to execute their transition plays. However, they mounted a late rally, with Pacres and Bombita stepping up to save two set points and cut the deficit to 20-24.
Sensing a shift in momentum, coach Ettore called a well-timed timeout, halting Galeries Tower’s comeback attempt. Ebon then took charge, overcoming a blocked attempt to deliver a decisive, powerful hit that sealed the set for Nxled.
Nxled outplayed Galeries Tower in key areas, registering more attack points (52-47-10) and blocks (10-8) to assert control and secure the victory. The Chameleons also scored 27 points off the Highrisers' unforced errors while 22 markers of their own.
Her back-to-back points, including a clever off-hand push, propelled Galeries Tower to a 13-9 lead.
With momentum on their side, the rest of the Highrisers stepped up, contributing both offensively and defensively. Their well-coordinated plays led to a series of scoring opportunities, resulting in an impressive 45 percent attack conversion rate.
Maraguinot and Bombita added firepower, helping the Highrisers outgun their opponents 18-13 in attack points. Maraguinot’s crafty drop shot pushed them to their biggest lead and set point at 24-17.
The Chameleons managed to save two set points, but fortune favored the Highrisers once more. Bombita’s two-handed backrow push, initially appearing to set up another Nxled freeball, instead found an open gap in the middle, sealing the set in dramatic fashion – much to the frustration of coach Ettore.
After a dynamic first set featuring contributions from multiple players, the Chameleons struggled to maintain their attacking rhythm. With Laure and Ebon losing their momentum, Permentilla was left to shoulder most of the offensive load, allowing the Highrisers to regroup and stage a commanding comeback.
