In a match that underscored the Chameleons’ edge in manpower and late-game poise, Nxled weathered a tight, error-filled opening set before asserting control in the second and delivering a clutch finish in the third.
Set 1 was a tense back-and-forth marked by cautious play and miscues, with neither side able to create separation. But the Chameleons leaned on their deeper rotation and sharper execution in Set 2 to take command, then showed resilience in Set 3 – overcoming an 18-21 deficit with a decisive 7-2 closing run.
MJ Phillips ignited the turnaround with a signature quick hit, while a Jean Asis attack error pulled Nxled within one. Though Myla Pablo’s service miscue briefly slowed their charge, the Chameleons’ suffocating net defense took over down the stretch.
Erika Deloria kept the Highrisers afloat with a timely response to a block on Aiza Pontillas for a 23-21 edge, but Nxled’s depth again proved decisive. Brooke Van Sickle came off the bench to deliver a crucial hit, then denied Pontillas at the net to force a 23-all count.
From there, it was all Nxled. Phillips slipped in a perfectly placed ace between two defenders, and Van Sickle sealed the match with another block on Pontillas, capping a composed finish that booked the Chameleons a showdown with the Farm Fresh Foxies for one of the last two Final Four berths after the Holy Week break.
“We just really locked in and watched a lot of films. We knew we made a lot of mistakes back then and we wanted to correct them. I think we did really well today,” said Phillips, referencing their four-set loss to the Highrisers last Feb. 19 that snapped an early three-game run and triggered a four-match skid.
Phillips delivered 17 points, including three blocks, to earn Best Player of the Game honors in the one-hour, 33-minute contest.
“Just composure, take it one game at a time. I know it’s kind of stressful at this stage of the tournament. We just have to keep coming together, build that chemistry and get that win,” she added.
Van Sickle contributed 14 points and nine excellent digs, while Pablo chipped in 10 markers. Ranya Musa and Jonah Escamillan added five points apiece, further highlighting Nxled’s balanced attack.
Deloria led Galeries Tower, which swept Capital1 to live another day, with 13 points, while Asis added 11, Roselle Baliton had nine, and Pontillas finished with eight. But the veteran Ilongga hitter struggled late against Nxled’s disciplined blocking.
Nxled held a narrow edge in all scoring departments – attacks (42-40), blocks (8-7), and aces (4-2) – but made the bigger difference capitalizing on Galeries Tower’s erratic play, scoring 21 points off errors while conceding 15.
Nxled seized the early advantage with a tough Set 1 victory, a tense exchange marked by cautious play and miscues that kept the scoreline tight throughout. The set featured 15 deadlocks, with neither side able to build a lead of more than three – an early sign of how evenly matched, and carefully measured, the contest would be.
After narrowly fending off the Highrisers’ challenge, the Chameleons appeared ready to pull away as Pablo and Van Sickle powered Nxled to a 20-17 edge. But Galeries Tower refused to yield, regrouping to tie the score at 22 following Baliton’s emphatic block on Van Sickle.
The set seemed destined for an extended finish after Van Sickle’s service error leveled things at 23. Yet in a match defined by restraint and hesitation – both teams clearly intent on avoiding costly errors that could hand momentum to the other – it was Pablo who broke through the tension.
The veteran delivered a clutch go-ahead hit, then capitalized on a hurried Highrisers play with a smart, well-placed power push that split two defenders and sealed the set.
The overall tone reflected the stakes, with both squads playing noticeably subdued, prioritizing control over risk. Nxled leaned on the steady production of Van Sickle, Pablo and Phillips, while Galeries Tower stayed within striking distance behind Pontillas and Baliton. However, Asis struggled to find her rhythm, further underscoring the Highrisers’ difficulty in sustaining offensive flow in a match where every point demanded precision and composure.
After sizing up the Highrisers, the Chameleons unleashed a relentless offensive surge in Set 2, puncturing Galeries Tower’s defense with quick hits from Musa and fluid combination plays anchored by Pablo and Van Sickle. The early onslaught underscored Nxled’s superior depth and manpower, powering them to a commanding 14-5 advantage.
Galeries Tower refused to fold, however, trimming the gap to 14-10 behind Asis’ string of running attacks. But every push was met with a steadier, deeper Nxled rotation – mixing power tips, sharp placements and fresh legs off the bench – to reassert control and stretch the lead to 22-12, further aided by a Gayle Pascual service miscue.
From there, it was cruise control. Though the Highrisers strung together three straight points to stave off multiple set points, capped by a block on Van Sickle, the Fil-Am standout quickly answered with a clutch down-the-line finish. The response not only sealed the set but also highlighted Nxled’s edge in firepower and personnel, moving the Chameleons a step closer to clinching a showdown with the Foxies.
