By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Nxled finally snapped a 15-game losing spell dating back last conference when it dismantled Galeries Tower, 25-20, 19-25, 25-14, 25-23, on Saturday, Feb. 8, in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
The victory may have kept the Chameleons at the cellar, tying with their victims and the Capital1 Solar Spikers at 1-8, but it was a sign of good things to come as far as the team was concerned.
“It feels good,” said Nxled coach Guidetti Ettore. “I’ve waiting four to five months to get this first victory and it makes me wonder to have more.”
EJ Laure rediscovered her old fiery form and spearheaded Nxled with 19 points built on 14 kills and five blocks, even as skipper Chiara Permentilla also torched the net with 13 attacks to finish with 14 points.
May Luna, who came off the bench in the second set and scored 12 points in the next three frames, said they treasured everything that coach Ettore has been teaching them.
“Lagi lang sinasabi ni coach samin yung grit. Regardless na hindi naman niya hinihingi yung panalo, ang hinihingi niya yung maayos na galaw samin,” said Luna.
Laure echoed the sentiment, adding: “Siyempre gusto naming manalo. Nagsabay-sabay lang tagala yung eagerness namin, kaya masaya ako na finally after ilang months, nakuha na namin.”
Incidentally, Nxled’s last victory also came at the expense of Galeries Tower in the Reinforced Conference.
Apart from dominating the offensive line with 52 kills, the Chameleons also put up a tough defensive wall at the net by making 10 blocks, while also firing five service aces.
Galeries Tower had the chance to seize the momentum after its second-set win, but slowly lost its steam despite the efforts of Jho Maraguinot and Grazielle Bombita, who had 14 and 11 points, respectively.
