When Nxled struggled in the first set against Farm Fresh, Chameleons coach Taka Minowa remembered one thing he did in the previous conference of the Premier Volleyball League when they faced the Foxies.
Minowa inserted Chiara Permentilla in their December 2, 2023 face-off against the Foxies in Iloilo, and that became the birth of the “Farm Fresh killer.”
Trying to see if it could still work, he substituted the 26-year-old outside hitter out of Adamson University for Jhoana Maraguinot during the opening set.
The former did not lose her place on the court since then as she helped lift the Chameleons over the Foxies in five sets, 24-26, 25-20, 25-23, 20-25, 15-11, on Tuesday night at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
Permentilla delivered her best game of the All-Filipino Conference to date with 16 points on 15 attacks and a service ace.
She also had an outstanding performance on defense with 16 excellent receptions and eight digs.
“Jho (Maraguinot) was always in the first six, but I remember last conference against Farm Fresh, Chiara (Permentilla) was a Farm Fresh killer, so she played very well,” said Minowa on his decision.
Before this game, the 5-foot-7 open spiker had yet to hit her stride due to limited playing time. She had accumulated only seven points in Nxled’s first seven games.
But given the opportunity against the Foxies, Permentilla decided to show what she’s capable of and push the Chameleons to their third win in eight outings.
“Every time naman coach will tap me and put me on the court, nandoon talaga yung tiwala ng coaches eh. So may tiwala rin ako sa sarili ko every time na pinapasok ako,” said Permentilla.
“Ang akin lang, I wanna perform well no matter if it’s a short or long period of time on the court. Ang gusto ko lang makatulong ako in any way possible sa teammates ko,” she added.
In that fabled game in Iloilo, Permentilla came off the bench and contributed 12 points, 13 receptions, and seven digs.
Nxled defeated Farm Fresh in four sets, 25-22, 17-25, 25-20, 25-17.
