MANILA, Philippines – With a strong performance against the Farm Fresh Foxies, the Nxled Chameleons earned their first-ever PVL On Tour quarterfinal berth.  Nxled announced their entrance as major contenders in Pool A with a decisive victory—25–13, 25–16, 25–14—at the USJ‑R Coliseum in Cebu, rematching earlier battles.

Just the night before, Nxled had lost in straight sets to pool leader PLDT, but she came back strong, displaying sharp focus and newfound vigor.  The Chameleons took over right away; their offensive rhythm outplayed Farm Fresh’s defense, and their floor coverage stopped the Foxies’ progress.  After an hour and eighteen minutes of clinical volleyball, the victory was a decisive turnaround that eliminated any question and guaranteed them a spot in the quarterfinals.

With almost ten sets that kept the hitters in pace and the opposition defense reeling, veteran playmaker Jaja Maraguinot masterminded Nxled’s attack.  She contributed four points of her own as well, proving her worth as a supplementary attacker and distributor.  Nxled was able to maintain pressure and stop Farm Fresh from ever gaining traction because of Maraguinot’s leadership on the court.

With 19 points, EJ Cariño was the top scorer.  She put on an impressive display despite previous injuries, converting 16 attacks, recording two aces, and recording one block.  Her offensive performance helped sustain gaps that Farm Fresh was unable to close and ignited each set’s surge.  Chiara Permentilla, who added ten points and pulled down seven digs, joined her in spearheading the scoring attack, and Jovelyn Fernandez, who was dependable on the court, added eight markers.

The supremacy of Nxled was evident in all statistical areas.  They doubled spike totals and reduced their own unforced errors, outperforming Farm Fresh in attacks, aces, blocks, and pressure metrics.  Their development as a team was highlighted by that harmony between aggressive offensive and defensive discipline.

In contrast, Farm Fresh appeared slow and haphazard right away.  The Foxies entered the game on a three-game winning streak, but they were unable to react when pressure mounted.  Their passing breakdowns hindered regular offensive settings, and they accumulated service and attack errors.  Outside hitter Trisha Tubu scored 12 points in a rare display of tenacity, but there was little assistance from teammates.  Rizza Cruz and Jolina Dela Cruz each contributed five points, but the rallying effort was never successful.

Together with PLDT, which had previously swept its pool assignments, the outcome guaranteed an outright playoff berth and ended Nxled’s group stage run with a 4-1 record.  With their defeat, Farm Fresh’s record fell to 3–2, forcing them into the play-in stages.

Nxled’s innovation has wider ramifications.  This triumph shows how a team that is committed to using their combined skills has grown.  The team’s performance, capacity to rebound, and consistency in high-pressure situations have all improved under coach Ettore Guidetti’s direction.  Guidetti turned a competition between coaching old friends into a resounding tactical victory by outwitting his Italian opponent, Farm Fresh coach Alessandro Lodi.

Along with balanced scoring across the lineup, floor management under senior leadership, and energetic play from both starters and role players, the performance also marked the maturation of Nxled’s identity.  With important players stepping up, the Chameleons are prepared to take on the league’s more experienced clubs in the quarterfinals.

Farm Fresh had swept Galeries Tower on Saturday, continuing its own winning streak, but there was a noticeable change in momentum.  When confronted with Nxled’s increased cohesiveness and pressure the next day, they were unable to find any solutions.  Under constant serve-receive and defensive coverage, their erratic rotations and coverage flaws were revealed.

Now that the quarterfinal bracket has been decided, attention is focused on the following stage.  Nxled is confident after their decisive win and will get ready to take on an opponent who has not yet been identified.  Now, over the upcoming break, their coaching staff can adjust rotations, rest important players, and improve tactics.

Meanwhile, Farm Fresh needs to get back together fast.  The play-in rounds are the next stop on their road, and the team has to improve its attacking effectiveness, passing consistency, and execution.  The difficulty now will be maintaining performance in do-or-die situations after their sudden mid-tournament comeback was halted.