NXLED pulled off a 25-23, 23-25, 25-23, 25-17 victory over Choco Mucho to gain a share of the lead in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference Siklab Series at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Tuesday night.
The match’s defining moment came in the third set, when the Flying Titans seemed firmly in control, 22-14, and on the verge of seizing the upper hand after splitting the first two sets.
But the Chameleons unleashed a breathtaking 11-1 finishing run to level the match at one set apiece.
“It was truly a team effort. Choco Mucho is always a tough opponent, and we knew this would be a hard-fought battle. Every point was earned, but I’m proud of how we stayed together and fought through it,” said Brookw Van Sickle, who led Nxlex with a triple-double of 19 points, 12 digs and 10 receptions.
“We had a slow start, but we gradually found our rhythm and built momentum. I’m proud of everyone for staying resilient,” Van Sickle added.
She credited the the Chameleons’ composure and unity for their ability to bounce back after dropping a set and trailing by a big margin, emphasizing the importance of staying focused regardless of the score.
“We just kept reminding ourselves to stay together, just as coach (Etorre) Guidetti kept telling us. It doesn’t matter how many sets you’re up or how many points you have. What matters is that we stay together and keep fighting,” Van Sickle said.
But Nxled’s dominance was not limited to its firepower and resilience, as the Chameleons also showcased their superb net defense, finishing with 13 blocks – eight more than the Flying Titans.
The win extended Nxled’s winning streak to four and lifted its record to a share of the conference lead with Creamline, further underscoring the Chameleons’ growing threat in the first of three series. MJ Phillips and Pablo finished with 13 and 12 points, respectively, while Jonah Escamillan and Jackie Acuña chipped in nine points apiece. Gel Cayuna tossed in 18 excellent sets and libero Jellie Tempiatura collected 14 digs.
Next up for Nxled is Capital1 on Saturday at the Philsports Arena.
