The Nxled Chameleons secured their first-ever quarterfinal appearance in the PVL on Tour after an emphatic recovery against the Farm Fresh Foxies.
CEBU CITY — Nxled played with rejuvenated energy, stopping streaking Farm Fresh, 25-13, 25-16, 25-14, to clinch their first-ever quarterfinals appearance in the PVL on Tour at the University of San Jose-Recoletos Coliseum here Sunday, July 27.
After seeing their own streak snapped Saturday against PLDT, the Chameleons returned the favor against a Foxies side that started flat, even as the latter came in with a three-game win streak heading into the match.
The Chameleons dominated right out of the gates with a runaway start in the first set.
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Powered by EJ Cariño’s resurgent offense, Nxled put an insurmountable 16-8 lead by the second technical timeout of the opener and went on to blow away its foe, 25-13.
While the Foxies tried to keep pace, they remained a step slow despite Rachel Anne Daquis' effort to jolt their momentum with a kill block that got them within three, 8-11.
But the Chameleons snuffed out the Foxies' hopes with a 7-1 tear, capped by Cariño’s ace, to build an 18-9 gap en route to a 2-0 set lead.
The woes continued in the third and final set for Farm Fresh who were once again at the mercy of Nxled’s hammering defense. By the second technical timeout, Nxled was ahead, 16-10.
While Daquis continued to rally the struggling Foxies, they continued to fumble against the surging Chameleons.
Cariño showed the way for Nxled with 19 points in the crucial breakthrough that helped the squad finish with a 4-1 record for a trip to the quarters with perfect PLDT.
The Chameleons await their next opponent in the playoffs.
Meanwhile, Farm Fresh fell into the knockout play-in rounds with its 3-2 slate.