EST Cola rallies past Nxled in five-set thriller

QUEZON CITY — EST Cola staged a stunning comeback from eight points down in the fourth set before outlasting Nxled, 26-24, 21-25, 21-25, 30-28, 15-12, late Thursday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in the PVL Invitational Conference.

The young Thai side showed poise, power, and endurance in the two-hour, 38-minute marathon to strengthen its bid for a spot in the finals.

Down a set and trailing 12-20 in the fourth, EST Cola appeared headed for defeat as Nxled moved within five points of closing out the match.

The Thais, however, refused to go away.

EST Cola unleashed an 11-2 run to erase the eight-point deficit and seize a 23-22 lead on a thunderous kill by Papatchaya Phontham.

The Chameleons saved a set point but then squandered four match points as EST Cola completed the comeback on a push by Nannaphat Moonjakham and an errant push by Jackie Acuña.

From the brink of defeat, the Thais forced a deciding fifth set.

Nxled dictated the early exchanges in the decider, but EST Cola stayed close until Phontham converted a kill on her second attempt to forge the sixth deadlock at 7.

Moonjakham then gave the Thais their first two-point cushion with an ace.

The Chameleons refused to fold and pulled even again at 9.

EST Cola, however, found another reserve of energy and closed out the match with a 6-3 finishing run.

Moonjakham delivered the finishing touch with a block touch that ended three fierce exchanges and sent the Thais into celebration.

Nxled still had a chance to extend the match after Acuña pulled the Chameleons within 12-13 on a joust.

EST Cola then won a crucial net-violation challenge, with Leyann de Guzman ruled to have touched the net before a Thai defender during the next rally.

The call proved decisive for EST Cola in a match that swung repeatedly between the two teams.

EST Cola’s escape came after another five-set marathon earlier Thursday, when Creamline outlasted Farm Fresh to improve to 3-0 and move closer to a finals berth.

The Thais’ victory was particularly significant because they survived an eight-point deficit, multiple match points, and a grueling deciding set.

Phontham led EST Cola with 26 points.

Moonjakham added 22 points, Nirarach Srikuta scored 21, and Nattharika Wasan chipped in 10.

EST Cola also dominated the attacking department, 72-60.

Nxled leaned heavily on Jonah Escamillan, who erupted for 26 points.

Myla Pablo added 16 points, MJ Phillips had 13, Acuña contributed 11, and setter Gel Cayuna scored 10 for the Chameleons.

Escamillan carried much of Nxled’s offensive burden, particularly late in the match, but the Chameleons could not find enough support in the deciding set.

EST Cola, meanwhile, continued to draw contributions from several players.

That balance proved crucial as the Thais maintained enough offense and energy to finish the comeback.

The 11-2 fourth-set run ultimately proved to be the defining stretch, turning an eight-point deficit into a one-point advantage and reviving a match that had appeared all but lost.

With the victory, EST Cola improved to 2-1 and moved into solo second place in the race for a berth in the PVL Invitational finals.

The comeback also marked the Thais’ second consecutive victory after they bounced back from an opening loss to defending champion PLDT.