After absorbing a straight-sets loss to PLDT the night before, Nxled stormed back with intensity and precision, crushing Farm Fresh, 25-13, 25-16, 25-14, to seize the second outright quarterfinal berth in Pool A of the PVL On Tour at the USJ-R Coliseum on Sunday, July 27.

The Chameleons came out rejuvenated and laser-focused, dismantling a Farm Fresh squad that had entered the matchup fresh off a dominant 3-0 win of their own. But any momentum the Foxies brought quickly faded as Nxled overwhelmed them with fluid offense, airtight defense, and unmatched pace.

It was more than just a bounce-back win—it was a resounding message from a team with its sights set firmly on a podium finish in this pre-season tournament.

Maraguinot, Cariño headline Nxled’s resounding win

Jaja Maraguinot orchestrated the offensive rhythm with poise and precision, tallying 11 excellent sets and adding four points of her own in a complete performance. Her masterful ball distribution kept the Foxies scrambling and opened the floor for teammates to exploit gaps in the defense.

Benefitting most from Maraguinot’s stellar setup was EJ Cariño, who erupted for 19 points, including 16 attacks, two aces, and a block. The former UST star, who had been under the weather in their last outing, returned to form with an MVP-level performance that powered Nxled’s breakaway runs in every set.

Chiara Permentilla added 10 points, with support from Jovelyn Fernandez (8), Jaycel Delos Reyes (5), and Krich Macaslang (4), rounding out a balanced attack.

Nxled controlled every key statistic: doubling Farm Fresh’s attack points (36-18), winning in blocks (7-6), and dominating from the service line (8-1 in aces). They also capitalized on 24 Foxies errors while committing 18 of their own.

Only Trisha Tubu showed resistance for Farm Fresh, delivering 12 points. But her efforts weren’t enough to overcome her team’s lack of offensive cohesion. Jolina Dela Cruz and Rizza Cruz managed just five points apiece, as the Foxies struggled to break Nxled’s formidable floor coverage and defensive wall.

With the quarterfinals looming, Cariño and the Chameleons will use their well-earned rest to recharge, while coach Ettore Guidetti—who outcoached fellow Italian Alessandro Lodi—continues to fine-tune a system that appears to be peaking at the right time.