By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Nxled turned back Galeries Tower, 25-19, 22-25, 25-18, 25-27, 15-12 to open its campaign on a high note in the 2024 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City on Tuesday, July 16.
The Chameleons regained their bearings from a tight fourth-set loss to pick up their first win under new Chinese mentor Gang Chen.
May Luna, Chiara Permentilla and import Meegan Hart led the charge for Nxled, which recovered from a 0-3 start in the deciding fifth set by unloading five straight points to grab the upper hand, 5-3.
Galeries Tower refused to surrender though as Andrea Marzan and France Ronquillo unloaded timely hits that pulled them to within 13-12.
But back-to-back hits from Permentilla and Hart sealed the match for the Chameleons.
A middle blocker from Iowa State University and Colorado University, Hart saw action for the Chameleons even if they have another import in the lineup in Jiang Xuanyao.
Galeries Tower also had last-minute changes with its import as Thai spiker Sutadta Chuewulim took over the spot of Brazilian spiker Monique Helena in the match. Helena, however, is still in the lineup.
It marked the return of Chuewulim, a former Thai national team member, in the PVL scene after playing for BanKo Perlas in the 2019 Reinforced Conference.
Nxled came close to clinching the match early after leading late in the fourth set, but crucial service errors from Jho Maraguinot and Hart breathed life to Galeries Tower.
