Nxled stays clutch, sweeps Galeries Tower

Games on Aug. 8
City of Santiago, Isabela
4 p.m. – ZUS Coffee vs. PLDT
6:30 p.m. – Capital1 vs. Creamline

POLOMOLOK, South Cotabato — Dragged into a series of pressure-packed finishes by a determined Galeries Tower side that refused to fold, Nxled showcased the chemistry, depth, and composure that coach Ettore Guidetti has emphasized, pulling through in every crucial stretch to carve out a hard-earned 25–23, 25–23, 25–20 victory in the PVL On Tour Showdown before a packed crowd at the Polomolok Gymnasium on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026.

Despite the exhibition nature of the preseason tournament, the atmosphere was anything but casual as local volleyball fans packed the venue.

The enthusiastic crowd was rewarded with momentum swings and three tightly contested sets that highlighted both teams’ readiness for the upcoming Premier Volleyball League season in October.

The Chameleons leaned on their balanced offense and collective execution to secure their second straight victory after an opening-game defeat.

The win followed last week’s sweep of Capital1 in Ilocos Sur.

The back-to-back victories provided an emphatic response to Nxled’s four-set loss to Creamline in Isabela on July 8 and underscored the growing cohesion of a squad flourishing under Guidetti’s system.

Every time the Highrisers threatened to seize momentum, Nxled found a player willing to deliver.

Sophomore Lyann de Guzman rose to the occasion in the closing moments of the first two sets, delivering timely attacks that steadied the Chameleons in crunch time.

In the decisive third set, veterans Aduke Ogunsanya and Myla Pablo combined to shut down Galeries Tower’s final rally, completing the straight-set triumph in one hour and 38 minutes.

Pablo led Nxled with 14 points, while MJ Phillips and EJ Cariño chipped in nine points apiece.

Jonah Escamillan and Jovelyn Fernandez added six and five points, respectively, as Nxled maximized its depth in an all-to-play format that saw key players rested in several sets.

Despite the rotations, Nxled’s offensive firepower remained evident as the Chameleons finished with 49 attack points — 10 more than Galeries Tower.

Erika Deloria paced the Highrisers with 13 points, while Jean Asis contributed 11, including five blocks.

Galeries Tower held a slim 11–10 advantage in blocking against Nxled’s formidable middle rotation.

Setter Gel Cayuna earned top honors after orchestrating Nxled’s offense with 16 excellent sets while adding four points.

Across the net, Galeries Tower’s Jules Coronel also impressed with a match-high 19 excellent sets in a superb floor-directing performance.

It was a victory built less on individual brilliance than on collective trust.

Guidetti drew meaningful contributions from nearly every player he fielded, with Nxled’s fluid rotations, balanced scoring, and defensive discipline repeatedly paying dividends in the match’s defining moments.

De Guzman, Ogunsanya, and Jackie Acuña finished with three points apiece.

Galeries Tower, however, made sure nothing came easily.

Looking to build on its stirring four-set comeback victory over Farm Fresh two weeks earlier, the Highrisers fought with remarkable determination despite operating with limited manpower.

They answered nearly every Nxled surge with one of their own, extending rallies, frustrating the Chameleons, and forcing the first two sets into tense endgame battles.

After absorbing narrow defeats in the opening two sets, Galeries Tower fell behind early in the third as Nxled raced to 8–4 and 12–7 leads.

The Highrisers again showed their fighting spirit, clawing back behind relentless defense and timely attacks to trim the deficit and stay within striking distance.

Each time Nxled appeared ready to pull away, the Highrisers responded with another run and refused to let the match slip away without a fight.

The Highrisers erased a four-point deficit and closed the gap to 17–16 behind an Asis block on Fernandez.

The Chameleons quickly regained control.

De Guzman stopped the rally with an off-the-block attack before Chiara Permentilla capitalized on an overpass with a thunderous kill, sparking a decisive run that stretched Nxled’s lead to 20–16.

The Chameleons never looked back as the Highrisers unraveled with a string of hitting errors, including two miscues by Jade Gentapa.

The former ZUS Coffee Thunderbelle briefly redeemed herself with a kill to save a match point, but the Chameleons responded in fitting fashion.

Pablo delivered the match-clinching attack, which the Highrisers failed to return, sealing the victory.

As the pressure mounted late in each set, the difference ultimately came down to experience and execution.

Although Galeries Tower’s resolve never wavered, its lack of fresh players and inability to sustain its composure in the closing exchanges proved costly.

Nxled capitalized on key opportunities and finished each set with authority.

The loss dropped the Highrisers to 1–1 in the tour, but their resilience again showed that they can compete with the league’s stronger teams when their energy and defense are clicking.

For Nxled, the victory served as another encouraging sign that its chemistry is steadily taking shape.

With contributions coming from across the roster and players embracing their roles in high-pressure situations, the Chameleons continue to build momentum and confidence heading into the PVL season.

The Chameleons improved to 2–1 in the preseason tournament and are scheduled to close their four-game On Tour campaign against Farm Fresh on Aug. 15 in Lanao del Norte.