EST Cola sweeps Nxled to win PVL Invitational title

QUEZON CITY — Thailand’s EST Cola capped a week of breakthrough performances by sweeping Nxled, 25-22, 25-21, 25-19, Tuesday night to capture the Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference championship at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The young Thai squad controlled the pace before an appreciative crowd, answering the Chameleons’ challenges with quick attacks, disciplined defense and steady execution.

Papatchaya Phontham, Nannaphat Moonjakham and Nirarach Srikuta again led EST Cola’s offense, while the rest of the roster supplied the depth and energy that sustained its championship run.

EST Cola became the second foreign team to win the Invitational, following Japan’s Kurashiki Ablaze, which defeated Creamline for the 2023 title.

The Thais’ success rested on crisp passing, quick transitions and coordinated court coverage that repeatedly turned defensive stops into scoring opportunities.

Their ability to chase down difficult balls, cover teammates and quickly reset kept Nxled from building sustained momentum.

The victory, completed in one hour and 28 minutes, marked a significant step forward from EST Cola’s fourth-place finish in its 2024 Invitational debut, when it fielded Thailand’s under-20 squad.

Phontham scored 15 points, Moonjakham added 11 and Srikuta contributed seven as the trio combined for 33 points.

Nattharika Wasan chipped in nine points, Sasithorn Jatta had six, and Natnicha Saelao supplied four points and 19 excellent sets. EST Cola finished with a 45-34 advantage in attacks.

Phontham, 20, also became the first player from a guest team to earn the PVL’s Most Valuable Player award.

She entered the final after ranking second in preliminary-round scoring with 97 points, built on 84 attacks, seven aces and six blocks. She also earned the Best Opposite Spiker award.

Jonah Escamillan led Nxled with 11 points, followed by Myla Pablo with 10, MJ Phillips with nine and EJ Cariño with six.

Despite competing with an under-21 squad, EST Cola showed composure in the tournament’s biggest moments.

After losing its opening match, the Thai team won its next four assignments to reach the final. Tuesday’s victory extended that streak to five matches and completed its rise from a promising visitor to tournament champion.

Nxled stayed close throughout a competitive opening set before EST Cola’s strong finish secured a 25-22 win.

The Thais took firmer control in the second set, racing to a 16-6 lead behind clean first touches, quick combinations and sharp transitions that left the Chameleons struggling to organize their block.

Nxled rallied and moved within three points at 24-21 after an EST Cola violation.

Phontham ended the comeback attempt with a kill, giving the visitors a two-set lead.

The Chameleons mounted another challenge in the third set, erasing a 12-6 deficit with six consecutive points capped by an Escamillan attack.

EST Cola responded with its quick offense and power hitting to regain the lead at 16-14, while its defense continued to disrupt Nxled’s attempts to sustain an attacking rhythm.

Escamillan kept the Chameleons in contention, helping them close within 21-19.

The Thais then scored four consecutive points, with Phontham delivering the championship-clinching kill for a six-point winning margin.

The decisive sweep contrasted sharply with the teams’ elimination-round meeting Sept. 3, when EST Cola needed a comeback and five sets to overcome Nxled.

This time, the Thais settled the rematch in three sets, completing a title run built on balanced scoring, disciplined defense and composure under pressure.