ILOILO – Nxled finished its maiden campaign on a high note, taking down Farm Fresh in four sets, 25-17, 17-25, 25-20, 25-17, in the Premier Volleyball League Second All-Filipino Conference, Saturday at the jam-packed University of San Agustin Gymnasium here.
Playing in their first PVL conference, the Chameleons managed to secure four wins against four losses, tying the Cargo Movers with identical 4-7 records. However, the latter managed to secure 13 points against the former’s 12 which put them at ninth place to end the tournament.
“Actually they have good players. We need to do 120 percent, 100 percent isn’t enough for us against Farm Fresh because they are strong, (they’re) actually strong. That’s why I (have) to shout,” said Nxled coach Taka Minowa after the tight encounter with the Foxies.
With Farm Fresh threatening to extend the game to a fifth set, Jho Maraguinot and Janine Navarro stepped up and helped Nxled unload an eight-to-nothing run that turned a 15-16 deficit into a 23-16 advantage late in the fourth frame.
Kate Santiago stopped the bleeding with a kill, but it was not enough as Maraguinot answered back to put her side at match point before Camille Victoria sealed the deal with an off-the-block hit.
“Our team they’re still young. They doesn’t have (enough) experience (together) that’s why we need to be more strong,” added the Japanese coach.
Victoria took charge with 17 points on 12 attacks and five blocks while Lycha Ebon hammered down 13 attacks to go along with two service aces for the Chameleons in the one-hour, 53-minute contest.
Maraguinot and Chiara Permentilla chipped in 12 points apiece while Navarro, who played a crucial role in Nxled’s finally run in the fourth, added five points off the bench.
On the other hand, Santiago top-scored for the Foxies, who ended the tournament with a 2-9 record, with 15 points to go along with 21 excellent receptions while Gayle Pascual had 12 points in three sets of play.
Trisha Tubu, meanwhile, was limited to just eight points in the loss.
