CEBU City – Reeling from a straight-set loss just the night before, Nxled looked anything but weary.
Instead, the Chameleons came out with renewed energy and laser-sharp focus, stunning the Farm Fresh Foxies with a blistering 25-13, 25-16, 25-14 victory to clinch the second outright quarterfinal berth in Pool A of the PVL On Tour at the USJ-R Coliseum here on Sunday.
The result was unexpected not just for its decisiveness but for its sheer dominance – especially against a Foxies squad riding high from a 3-0 romp of its own the previous day. But while Farm Fresh appeared sluggish and disjointed, Nxled came out smoking, its fluid offense and airtight floor coverage overwhelming Farm Fresh from the opening serve.
The one-hour, 18-minute rout wasn’t just a bounce-back win for Nxled following its defeat to fellow quarterfinalist PLDT. It was a resounding statement of intent from a team hell-bent on carving out a place on the podium in this pre-season tournament organized by Sports Vision.
Orchestrating the Chameleons' masterclass was playmaker Jaja Maraguinot, whose veteran command of the court proved pivotal. She tallied 11 excellent sets, keeping her hitters in rhythm and the Foxies’ defense in constant scramble.
Maraguinot even chipped in four points herself, underscoring her all-around brilliance in one of her finest performances yet.
Farm Fresh, meanwhile, never found its footing. The Foxies unraveled under sustained pressure from the first contact, committing a slew of errors and failing to respond to Nxled’s relentless pace and precision.
EJ Cariño emerged as the biggest beneficiary of Maraguinot’s superb orchestration, pouring in a game-high 19 points, while Chiara Permentilla finished with 10, Jovelyn Fernandez chipped in eight, Jaycel Delos Reyes added five, and Krich Macaslang wound up with four markers.
Cariño, who was under the weather last Thursday, bounced back in peak form, showcasing an MVP-caliber performance that underscored her importance to the Chameleons’ campaign. She unleashed 16 attacks, scored two aces, and added a block – all keying her team’s decisive breakaways in each set.
“Okay naman ako at pinagpahinga ako ni coach,” said the former UST standout, who came off an 11-point, two-set outing in their previous match against PLDT.
With the Chameleons securing the other outright quarterfinal berth in Pool A, Cariño and company now look forward to a well-earned rest – time they plan to use to recharge and regroup for the grueling knockout rounds ahead.
Ettore Guidetti also got the better of fellow Italian Alessandro Lodi in a battle of wits and strategy, executing a near-flawless game plan while drawing solid performances from his core players to keep Nxled firmly in control.
The Chameleons overwhelmed the Foxies in every department.
Nxled dominated the attacking front, doubling Farm Fresh’s spike total, 36-18. The Chameleons also had the edge in blocks (7-6) and aces (8-1), while capitalizing on their opponents’ miscues, scoring 24 points off errors. Nxled, meanwhile, gave away 18 unforced points – far from perfect, but well within control.
Trisha Tubu stood as the lone bright spot for Farm Fresh, delivering 12 points. But she received minimal support, with Jolina Dela Cruz and Rizza Cruz finishing with five points each as the rest of the squad struggled with their offset and were unable to break through Nxled’s coverage and defensive wall.
