NXLED overcame a third-set stumble to put away an also-ran but fiercely fighting Farm Fresh side, 25-20, 25-21, 18-25, 25-22, closing out their preliminary round campaign with back-to-back wins in the Premier Volleyball League Invitational Final Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Chameleons ended the prelims with a 3-2 slate and later secured a breakthrough Final appearance.
Nxled advanced to the gold medal match after Thailand’s EST Cola defeated Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City, 25-19, 26-24, 26-24, and PLDT outlasted Creamline, 25-17, 23-25, 21-25, 25-23, 15-12.
Nxled ended up tied with Creamline and PLDT second place at 3-2. With 10 points, the Chameleons advanced, while as the Cool Smashers (9 points) and the High Speed Hitters (8 points) were relegated to the battle for the bronze, as they failed to gain the needed points to secure the No. 2 spot.
The final is set at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the Big Dome, with Nxled seeking to avenge its prelims loss to EST Cola.
Regardless of the result of the championship match, the Chameleons were satisfied with their performance in this short Invitational that they hope to carry over in the All-Filipino which will begin next month.
“I’m just proud of everyone’s mentality. It’s a dogfight in this tournament. The immediate bounce back from each game, playing back-to-back, so I’m really proud of our team for having that mentality to keep going even though we’re exhausted,” said Nxled middle blocker MJ Phillips, who finished with 25 points on four aces and two blocks and collected five digs.
Jackie Acuña likewise made her presence felt at the net, punishing Foxies with a steady mix of slides, running attacks and quick plays. She finished with 12 points on 10-of-17 kills and two blocks for the Chameleons.
Myla Pablo was the other Nxled player in double digits with 10 points.
Phillips stressed that Nxled will continue to fight until the very end.
“We’re just never gonna give up, and we’re gonna keep fighting until the end,” Phillips said.
EST Cola became the fourth foreign guest squad to reach the gold medal match.
Chinese Taipei’s King Whale, and Japan’s Kurashiki Ablaze and Kobe Shinwa University were the teams which made it to the Final. Among them, Kurashiki was the only team to emerge as Invitational champions in 2023 behind Final MVP playmaker Kyoka Ohshima.
