Chameleons post 3rd straight win
KRISH Macaslang of Nxled pierces the defense of Jewel Encarnacion of Galeries Tower during their PVL On Tour match on Tuesday. The Chameleons prevailed, 26-24, 25-23, 25-23.
Photograph courtesy of PVL
Games on Saturday:
(City of Passi Arena)
4 p.m. — ZUS Coffee vs Creamline
6:30 p.m. — Chery Tiggo vs Cignal
Nxled reached a franchise milestone after sweeping Galeries Tower, 26-24, 25-23, 25-23, for a third straight win in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) On Tour Tuesday at the FilOil EcoOil Arena in San Juan.
EJ Laure-Carino led two other Chameleons in double figures with 16 points, 14 coming off attacks, as the club recorded its best start at 3-0 win-loss slate for a share of the top spot with PLDT in Pool A.
Nxled displayed grit and composure coming back from nine points down in the opening set to steal the extended frame and gain momentum to finish the encounter in one hour and 48 minutes.
“It was a very tough battle. We won when we started being a team in the middle of the first set,” Chameleons coach Ettore Guidetti said.
“One moment, it was 13-4. Then we started to play patience with our system. Our passing was very good. To be honest, my open spikers and my opposite have done a very good work.”
Opposite hitter Jov Fernandez had 14 markers with all but one of her points coming from kills while Chiara Permentilla added 13 points with nine excellent receptions and six digs for Nxled, which played an inspired game with actor Donny Pangilinan cheering the team on.
The Chameleons had a sluggish start, falling to a 3-14 hole and with Guidetti already burning two timeouts. Nxled responded with a scorching run to shock the Highrisers, who surrendered the opening frame with a costly error.
Already warmed up, the Chameleons controlled the next two frames to send Galeries Tower reeling to a third straight defeat in as many games.
Jewel Encarnacion led the Highrisers, who threw away 23 points off errors, with 15 points built on 14 spikes and a service ace in a losing effort she laced with seven receives and five digs.
Rookie Jean Asis added 11 markers while Roselle Baliton finished with six.
Nxled will close its elimination round campaign when PVL action visits Cebu. The Chameleons will face PLDT on 26 July before taking on Farm Fresh the following day.
Galeries Tower, on the other hand, will also travel to Cebu to battle Farm Fresh on the 26th before wrapping the round against PLDT on the 27th.