Nxled finally unleashed the full force of its star-studded crew, combining the firepower of its Petro Gazz-built core with relentless defense to shut down PLDT’s vaunted attack and fashion out a convincing 25-16, 25-20, 25-18 victory in its PVL All-Filipino Conference Siklab Series debut at the Smart Araneta Coliseum late Tuesday.
The Chameleons made their intentions clear from the opening serve, overpowering PLDT in the first set before showing their composure and defensive grit in the second, when they erased an early six-point deficit with a stunning 10-point run. They then stamped their class in the third, denying the High Speed Hitters any chance to mount a sustained fightback.
Nxled thus joined Choco Mucho, Creamline and Farm Fresh in the early lead after two playdates of the league’s first of three series.
Bracing for a slugfest against a PLDT side boasting greater experience and established offensive threats, Nxled instead turned the opener into a virtual knockout, dictating the pace behind the combined firepower of Van Sickle, Pablo and Escamillan.
The Chameleons finished with 16 attack points against PLDT’s nine in the first set, while committing just three errors and capitalizing on five free points from the High Speed Hitters’ miscues.
But Nxled’s most telling statement came in the second set, when PLDT threatened to seize control with a 9-3 start. Rather than buckle under pressure, the Chameleons responded with a stirring 10-0 surge, turning a six-point deficit into a 13-9 lead and wresting momentum away from their more seasoned rivals.
Cariño spearheaded the fightback with timely hits and a crucial rejection of Mika Reyes, while de Guzman wreaked havoc from the service line, firing consecutive aces to fuel the turnaround and cap a six-point burst that drew Nxled level at 9.
Cariño continued to deliver in the extended rally that followed, unleashing a power blast before a net fault by Fajardo handed Nxled its 10th straight point and a four-point cushion.
PLDT finally ended the run on a service error by De Guzman and briefly threatened to regain its footing with three consecutive points, closing the gap to 12-13. But the Chameleons quickly restored order, stringing up three points of their own, aided by two PLDT attack errors, to take a 16-12 lead at the second technical timeout.
Pablo then returned to the forefront, scoring on back-to-back plays to stretch the margin to 19-14. The multi-awarded MVP punctuated the sequence with a putaway after foiling Davison twice, further exposing Nxled’s ability to blunt PLDT’s top guns at the net.
The Chameleons maintained control down the stretch, trading points before closing out the set with a 6-4 run capped by Acuña’s running attack.
Acuña had earlier made her presence felt with consecutive points – a quick attack off Djanel Cheng’s brilliant feed followed by a solid block against Davison’s crosscourt attempt – underscoring the depth that has made Nxled such a dangerous proposition.
With its stars firing on all cylinders and its defense consistently frustrating PLDT’s most potent attackers, Nxled showed it has more than enough firepower to contend with the league’s established contenders. More importantly, the sweep offered an early glimpse of what the Chameleons can become as their star-studded roster continues to find its rhythm in pursuit of the franchise’s elusive first championship.
