Nxled tops Farm Fresh, stays in finals hunt

QUEZON CITY — Needing a victory to keep its championship hopes alive, Nxled delivered — and then had to wait.

The Chameleons overcame a third-set stumble to defeat the eliminated but determined Farm Fresh Foxies, 25-20, 25-21, 18-25, 25-22, Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Nxled completed the four-set victory in 1 hour, 59 minutes and closed its elimination-round campaign in the Premier Volleyball League Invitational with a 3-2 record.

Its championship fate, however, depended on the final two elimination matches later Sunday: Thailand’s EST Cola against Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City and Creamline against defending champion PLDT.

The six-team tournament uses a single-round-robin format, with the top two clubs advancing to Tuesday’s winner-take-all final.

Victories by EST Cola and Creamline would eliminate Nxled and PLDT while setting up a rematch between the Thai club and the Cool Smashers.

Losses by EST Cola and Creamline, however, would create a four-way tie at 3-2.

The International Volleyball Federation’s tiebreaking rules would then determine the finalists, with set and point ratios potentially deciding which teams advance.

Nxled did its part. All the Chameleons could do afterward was watch the scoreboard.

“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 middle blocker MJ Phillips, who was named Player of the Game.

Phillips powered Nxled with 25 points, including two blocks and four aces.

Her performance highlighted the Chameleons’ biggest advantage against Farm Fresh: relentless production through the middle.

Phillips displayed immediate chemistry with former Cignal setter Gel Cayuna and delivered three consecutive clutch hits on running attacks and quick plays to stall the Foxies’ fourth-set comeback.

Jackie Acuña also controlled the net with a steady combination of slides, running attacks and quick plays.

Acuña finished with 12 points as Nxled repeatedly attacked through the middle and kept Farm Fresh’s blockers guessing.

Phillips and Acuña provided an effective combination that complemented the Chameleons’ production from the wings.

Jonah Escamillan scored 11 points, Myla Pablo added 10 and EJ Cariño contributed nine.

After dropping the first two sets, the Foxies extended the match with a gritty stand in the third.

Nxled regained control in the fourth and withstood several Farm Fresh rallies before Cariño sealed the victory with a block against Mylene Rezanova.

Phillips said the Chameleons remained composed after conceding the third set and made the necessary adjustments.

“We just had to stay patient. A lot of times we started to get a little uptight, so I kept reminding the girls to just stay patient and just keep going, ’cause trust our skills,” she said.

Phillips said Nxled would continue competing regardless of the uncertainty surrounding its championship bid.

“We’re just never gonna give up, and we’re gonna keep fighting until the end,” she said.

Cayuna had 22 excellent sets, three more than Farm Fresh counterpart Alohi Robins-Hardy.

Cayuna also scored six points, while Robins-Hardy contributed three.

Last season’s MVP, Trisha Tubu, led Farm Fresh with 20 points, including three blocks.

Rookie Jonna Perdido added 13 points, while Ces Molina finished with 12.

Farm Fresh held a 61-58 advantage in attack points, but Nxled controlled the net with a 10-7 edge in blocks.

The Chameleons also produced five aces and limited the Foxies to one.

Farm Fresh opened its campaign with a four-set victory over Ho Chi Minh City but lost its next four matches to finish 1-4.