Nxled opened its Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference campaign without dominance but with survival. The Chameleons leaned on championship composure to escape a relentless Farm Fresh side and seize an early share of the league lead.

Riding late-game steadiness rather than sustained control, Nxled outlasted the Foxies, 25-23, 13-25, 21-25, 25-15, 15-12, Tuesday, February 3, at the FilOil Playtime Centre in San Juan. The two-hour battle tested the Chameleons’ nerve as much as their firepower.

The win was forged through resilience more than rhythm. Nxled repeatedly flirted with collapse before clawing back behind the calm presence of Myla Pablo and the stretch-run brilliance of Brooke Van Sickle.

The finish carried as much tension as any rally. Match point arrived not on a thunderous kill but on a Farm Fresh miscue after multiple escapes kept the Foxies alive deep into the fifth set.

Nxled head coach Ettore Guidetti called for a critical timeout to halt Farm Fresh’s momentum and reset his offense. The pause proved decisive as the Foxies faltered at the service line, allowing the Chameleons to finally exhale.

“If that’s how the season begins, it was certainly a fearsome match,” Guidetti said. “Farm Fresh played very well for a first game, and it was difficult for us. In the last two sets, I was fortunate to find the right players at the right moments.”

Nxled finds urgency after staring at defeat

Facing elimination in the fourth set, Nxled finally reasserted its urgency and attacking intent. Sophomore Lyann De Guzman sparked the turnaround with a timely three-point burst that pushed the Chameleons ahead 18-10.

That surge set the tone for a dominant response that forced a deciding fifth set. Nxled rediscovered its rhythm after narrowly stealing the opener and then surrendering the next two sets in lopsided fashion.

The decider mirrored the tension of the opening frame. The teams traded extended rallies and momentum swings, grinding through nine deadlocks that kept the outcome in doubt.

Farm Fresh briefly seized its lone lead at 9-8 on a Ces Molina ace. Nxled steadied itself just in time, leaning on its veterans to halt the slide.

Van Sickle ignited the decisive push with back-to-back kills. Pablo followed with veteran guile, scoring off the block and converting a broken play for a crucial three-point cushion.

Foxies prove dangerous despite narrow loss

Farm Fresh refused to fade quietly down the stretch. Trisha Tubu, who erupted for a match-high 28 points, nearly willed the Foxies back before her next attack clipped the antenna.

Still, Farm Fresh extended the match once more. Tubu struck again and Pablo misfired to keep the Foxies alive before another service error finally ended the contest.

The margins told the story of a match that could have swung either way. Nxled edged the attack battle 64-63, while Farm Fresh controlled the net with an 8-5 advantage in blocks and narrowly led in aces, 5-4.

Van Sickle finished with 20 points to lead Nxled. Pablo added 19 points and six digs to earn Best Player of the Game honors, while MJ Phillips chipped in 13 markers.

De Guzman delivered seven points off the bench. Setter Jules Tolentino orchestrated the offense with 12 excellent sets and five points, including two aces.

Despite the loss, Farm Fresh sent a clear message. Ces Molina and Royse Tubino provided steady support with 14 and 13 points, reinforcing the Foxies’ growing status as a dangerous contender in an increasingly unpredictable league.