While early records may hint at expected outcomes, the PVL On Tour continues to defy predictions, thanks to the growing parity among teams.
That theme holds as action resumes on Tuesday with a pivotal double-header at the FilOil EcoOil Center in San Juan City, kicking off the fifth week of the pre-season tournament organized by Sports Vision.
Nxled, the tournament’s biggest early surprise, aims for a franchise-best 3-0 start when it tangles with winless Galeries Tower at 4 p.m. The Chameleons ride high on back-to-back stunners over top-tier teams – Petro Gazz (3-2) and Choco Mucho (3-1) – in Batangas City, looking to sustain their momentum and stay within striking distance of the unbeaten PLDT High Speed Hitters (3-0) in Pool A.
Rookie standout Lyann de Guzman has powered Nxled’s dream run, firing 21 points in their gritty five-set escape against the reigning All-Filipino champions Angels, before uncorking 24 markers versus the Flying Titans.
But the Chameleons’ success goes beyond one star, with coach Ettore Guidetti also getting big contributions from Chiara Permentilla, EJ Cariño, Krich Macaslang and Jovelyn Fernandez, all stepping up in clutch moments.
On the other side, Galeries Tower may be reeling from two straight defeats, but the Highrisers have shown glimpses of potential. Jewel Encarnacion, Ysa Jimenez and France Ronquillo continue to deliver quality outings, while promising rookie Jean Asis is emerging as one of the team’s future centerpieces.
Still, to stop the surging Chameleons, the Highrisers must learn to execute under pressure – especially during the tight endgame stretches that have plagued them so far.
Meanwhile, the 6:30 p.m. clash between Akari and Capital1 in Pool B is shaping up to be a crucial showdown with quarterfinal implications.
At 1-3, the Chargers are desperate to stay in the hunt and build momentum off their five-set squeaker over the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles in Vigan. But inconsistency remains an issue, as seen in their five-set loss to the Chery Tiggo Crossovers in Montalban.
Capital1, still winless in four games, is hungry for a breakthrough. The Solar Spikers had their best shot in a gut-wrenching five-set loss to ZUS Coffee, where they squandered a 2-1 set lead.
Alas Pilipinas coach Jorge de Brito – now calling the shots for Solar Spikers while his national pool players remain sidelined – is hoping his key trio of Trisha Genesis, Shola Alvarez and Sydney Niegos can finally push them past the finish line.
Despite a combined 64-point output from the trio, Capital1 once again fell short in crunch time against ZUS Coffee, an area they must urgently address if the Solar Spikers are to salvage their campaign and earn that elusive first win.
