Nxled, Choco Mucho close PVL prelims with key wins ahead of play-in stage

Nxled turned early struggles into a statement victory, overpowering the PLDT High Speed Hitters, 21–25, 25–23, 25–13, 25–14, to keep its qualifying hopes alive.

After a tentative opening marked by shaky reception and miscommunication, the Chameleons transformed into a composed and aggressive unit as their improved floor defense and balanced attack disrupted PLDT’s system, shifting the match’s tempo entirely in their favor.

Brooke Van Sickle, Mar-Jana Phillips, Jonah Sabete-Escamillan, and Myla Pablo all delivered double-digit outputs as Nxled showcased a balanced offensive attack, finishing with 21, 16, 15, and 13 points, respectively.

Setters Jules Tolentino and Djanel Cheng anchored the offense, orchestrating a fluid system that consistently kept PLDT’s defense off-balance.

Phillips delivered 16 points, including three aces and two blocks, to earn Best Player of the Game honors, anchoring a performance that underscored Nxled’s growing chemistry after a mid-conference slump.

The Chameleons closed the prelims with a 5–4 record, staying in contention for a qualifying round spot, while PLDT dropped to 7–2, snapping a four-game winning streak.

Choco Mucho gains traction

Meanwhile, Choco Mucho leaned on composure and depth to beat the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles, 27–25, 22–25, 25–16, 25–19, signaling a team beginning to find its identity ahead of the next phase.

The Flying Titans endured a tight opening stretch, escaping a deuce-filled first set before faltering in the second. 

But unlike earlier matches in the conference, they responded with control, tightening their system and dictating the pace in the final two sets.

Deanna Wong and Sisi Rondina provided stability and firepower, while Des Cheng sparked a decisive scoring run that broke the match open in the fourth.

The late-game appearance of Eya Laure energized the crowd, and she eventually sealed the win with a smart off-speed hit after ZUS Coffee threatened with a late surge.

Choco Mucho finished the prelims at 4–5, falling short of a Top 4 spot but carrying momentum into the Play-In stage. 

ZUS Coffee, despite flashes of resilience late, ended its campaign at 1–8.