It took Nxled nine games to regain its winning ways after posting a 25-20, 19-25, 25-14, 25-23 victory over Galeries Tower on Saturday in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
EJ Laure, who joined the team only three months ago, made it all happen for the Chameleons as she delivered a game-high 19 points built around 14 attacks and five blocks, making her the obvious pick as winner of the Player of the Game honors.
The losing streak actually stretched to as far back as the Reinforced Conference with Nlxed’s last win coming against Galeries Tower as well 15 matches ago.
“It feels great. After all the hard work in our past games, we finally got our first win,” said Laure in Filipino.
“It wasn’t just me, everyone wanted to win, and we all worked together to make it happen,” she added.
The win boosted Nxled’s win-loss card to 1-8 while the loss dropped Galeries Tower’s ledger to 1-9, the worst in the tournament.
Despite dropping the second set, Nxled found its rhythm in the third, dominating behind key contributions from Chiara Permentilla, who finished with 14 points, and May Luna, who added 12 points.
The Chameleons carried their momentum into the fourth set, with Laure and Luna leading the charge.
Laure’s well-placed crosscourt attack brought Nxled to match point, 24-22, before Luna sealed the victory with a powerful spike through the blockers.
Aside from their offensive firepower, the Chameleons’ net defense proved crucial.
Jaycel delos Reyes registered three key blocks for the Nxled to finish with eight points, while Ysabel Jimenez also had three rejections for the Galeries to also contribute eight points.
Jhanna Maraguinot led Galeries Tower with 14 points off 11 attacks, two aces, and a block. Graze Bombita added 11, while Roselle Baliton chipped in nine.
Nxled edged Galeries Tower in attacks, 52-47, and proved more efficient in crucial stretches, particularly in the third set, where they pulled away for a commanding 25-14 win.
Head coach Ettore Guidetti emphasized that while the victory was a significant step forward, the team remains focused on continuous improvement.
“We are looking for more in the next games and want to show that this is just the beginning,” Guidetti said.
Nxled will next face Choco Mucho, a formidable opponent in the league, but Guidetti remains steadfast in their approach.
“Winning or losing in the last game has nothing to do with the next one. We’re going to put in the effort no matter what.”
With this breakthrough win, the Chameleons are hoping to build momentum and prove they are more than just a struggling team in the league.