Galeries Tower refused to go down without a fight, but Nxled had an answer for every punch. Leaning on the chemistry, depth and composure coach Guidetti Etorre has been drilling into his squad, the Chameleons battled through three pressure-packed sets to escape with a hard-earned 25-23, 25-23, 25-20 victory in the PVL On Tour Showdown before a packed crowd at the Polomolok Gymnasium in Cotabato on Saturday, August 1.

Despite the exhibition nature of the preseason tournament, the atmosphere was anything but casual, as local volleyball fans jammed the venue, creating a lively backdrop for one of the day’s most competitive matches. The crowd was rewarded with constant momentum swings and three tightly contested sets that showcased both teams’ readiness for the upcoming Premier Volleyball League season in October.

The win marked Nxled’s second straight after an opening-game defeat, following last week’s sweep of Capital1 in Ilocos Sur. The back-to-back victories provided an emphatic response to the Chameleons’ four-set loss to Creamline in Isabela last July 8 and underscored the growing cohesion of a squad flourishing under Etorre’s system.

De Guzman, Veterans Deliver in Crunch Time

Every time the Highrisers threatened to seize momentum, Nxled found a player willing to answer.

Sophomore Lyann de Guzman rose to the occasion in the closing moments of the first two sets, coming through with timely attacks that steadied the Chameleons in crunch time. In the decisive third frame, veterans Aduke Ogunsanya and Myla Pablo combined to slam the door on Galeries Tower’s final rally, completing the straight-set triumph in one hour and 38 minutes.

Pablo led all scorers with 14 points, while MJ Phillips and EJ Cariño chipped in nine points apiece. Jonah Escamillan and Jovelyn Fernandez added six and five markers, respectively, as Nxled maximized its depth in an all-to-play format that saw key players rested in several sets.

Despite the rotations, Nxled’s offensive firepower remained evident, finishing with 49 attack points — 10 more than Galeries Tower.

Setter Gel Cayuna earned top honors after orchestrating Nxled’s offense with 16 excellent sets while adding four points of her own. It was a victory built less on individual brilliance than on collective trust, with Etorre drawing meaningful contributions from virtually every player he fielded. De Guzman, Ogunsanya and Jackie Acuña each finished with three points.

Highrisers’ Resolve Pushes Chameleons to the Brink

Galeries Tower, however, made sure nothing came easily.

Looking to build on its stirring four-set comeback win over Farm Fresh two weeks ago, the Highrisers fought with remarkable determination despite operating with limited manpower. They answered nearly every Nxled surge with one of their own, extending rallies, frustrating the Chameleons and forcing the first two sets into tense endgame battles.

Erika Deloria paced Galeries Tower with 13 points, while Jean Asis added 11 markers, including five blocks that helped the Highrisers carve out a slim 11-10 edge in blocking against Nxled’s formidable middle rotation. Jules Coronel also turned in a standout floor-directing performance, posting a match-high 19 excellent sets.

After absorbing narrow defeats in the opening two frames, Nxled attempted to finally create separation in the third, racing to 8-4 and 12-7 leads. But Galeries Tower once again showed its fighting spirit, clawing back behind relentless defense and timely attacks to stay within striking distance. The Highrisers erased a four-point deficit and closed the gap at 16-17 behind an Asis block on Fernandez.

The Chameleons, though, quickly regained control. De Guzman stopped the rally with an off-the-block attack before Chiara Permentilla capitalized on an overpass with a thunderous kill, sparking a decisive run that stretched Nxled’s lead to 20-16.

From there, the Chameleons never looked back as the Highrisers unraveled with a string of hitting errors, including a pair of miscues from Jade Gentapa. The former ZUS Coffee Thunderbelle briefly redeemed herself with a kill to save one match point, but Pablo delivered the match-clinching attack, which Galeries Tower failed to return, sealing the victory.

The loss dropped the Highrisers to 1-1 in the tour, though their resilience once again showed they can hang with the league’s stronger teams when their energy and defense are clicking. For Nxled, the win served as another encouraging sign that its chemistry is steadily taking shape heading into the PVL season — proof that a balanced, connected squad can be just as dangerous as one powered by star performances.