Nxled closed out its Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference campaign with a commanding 25-17, 25-17, 25-18 victory over Farm Fresh, securing a 1-1 record in Pool B of the Play-In tournament at Philsports Arena in Pasig on Thursday.
Determined to bounce back from a shutout loss to the Chery Tiggo Crossovers last week, the Chameleons overpowered the Foxies from start to finish, salvaging a measure of pride after a challenging main tournament run.
Nxled wasted no time imposing its strength, capitalizing on the absence of Farm Fresh's top hitter, Trisha Tubu, who was sidelined due to back issues. Chiara Permentilla, Krich Macaslang, Lycha Ebon, Lucille Almonte and EJ Laure spearheaded the offense, while Rachel Jorvina anchored the defense with 20 excellent digs, earning her Player of the Game honors.
“We just played very relaxed and leaned on each other all throughout,” said Jorvina. “We wanted to finish our campaign on a high note.”
In parting, the Canada-based libero expressed confidence in the team’s future:
“We’re confident we can keep up with the other teams – it’s just a matter of time,” she said.
Permentilla and Macaslang spearheaded Nxled’s offensive onslaught with nine points each, while Laure and Almonte delivered matching eight-point performances. Ebon contributed seven markers as the Chameleons overwhelmed the Foxies in attacks, 47-25, powering their swift one-hour, 27-minute triumph.
Pierre Abellana provided a late spark for Farm Fresh, finishing with 10 points despite playing only two sets. Rachel Daquis added nine markers, while Caitlyn Viray and Aprylle Tagsip chipped in five points apiece.
Beyond her offensive contributions, Permentilla also stood out on defense, tallying 11 excellent digs, while Almonte complemented Shiela Pineda’s 11 excellent receptions with six of her own, further solidifying Nxled’s all-around dominance.
After two dominant sets, Farm Fresh showed some fight in the third, briefly taking an 11-10 lead following a Rachel Daquis kill block on Ebon. However, Nxled quickly regained control, scoring three straight points, including a Laure backrow hit, before extending their advantage to 19-14 off a Macaslang running attack.
A brief setback from a net violation did little to slow Nxled’s charge, as Laure converted on a combination play, and a successful ball-in/ball-out challenge added to their momentum. Macaslang’s fortunate ace put the Chameleons within three points of victory, and a Farm Fresh attack error further tilted the match in their favor.
The Foxies attempted to rally with a Sarah Gonzales ace, but Laure’s well-placed drop shot extinguished their hopes before Regina Mangulabnan’s ace sealed the win, closing out Nxled’s campaign on a high note.
Nxled started strong, surging ahead with early leads of 7-1 and 16-8. However, the Chameleons’ momentum slowed, allowing the Foxies to mount a comeback and close the gap to 16-20.
Regaining their rhythm just in time, the Chameleons responded with a decisive 5-1 run, sealing the set with a Lycha Ebon off-the-block hit.
Nxled's dominance was evident in their 15 attack points, nearly doubling the Foxies' eight. They also controlled the net, tallying four blocks compared to their opponent’s single block.
Though their aggressive play resulted in eight unforced errors – three more than the Foxies – it hardly mattered as the Chameleons' strong finish mirrored their explosive start, reinforcing their superiority in the opening set.
Nxled wasted no time asserting control in the second set. From a 3-3 count, the Chameleons unleashed a four-point surge to take command. Though the Foxies managed to inch closer at 5-7, Nxled responded with a blistering 9-3 run, once again establishing a commanding 16-8 advantage – mirroring their first-set dominance.
The Chameleons never looked back, stretching their lead to 20-11 after a Pierre Abellana miscue. Ebon then powered through the block for a crushing 21-11 lead, effectively sealing the set in similar fashion to the opener.
Nxled’s relentless firepower was on full display, outgunning Farm Fresh in attacks, 16-10. More impressively, the Chameleons maintained consistency, conceding only three free points while capitalizing on the Foxies’ five unforced errors.
With their superior execution and unyielding aggression, the Chameleons left no doubt about their control of the match.
