NXLED made sure there would be no repeat of its prelims nightmare.
After absorbing one of the biggest upsets of the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference at the hands of Galeries Tower, a loss that sparked a four-game skid, the Chameleons struck back when it mattered most.
Nxled got its revenge in the knockout play-in, sweeping the Highrisers, 25-23, 25-18, 25-23, on Saturday to keep its semifinals bid alive.
READ: Nxled stays alive in PVL play-ins, sending Galeries Tower packing
For head coach Ettore Guidetti, the difference boiled down to one key piece.
“First of all, we didn't play with MJ Phillips last time. She had a little problem on the knee, and so we didn't have the possibility to play with her,” said Guidetti.
Back in the prelims, Nxled was without Phillips due to a minor fitness issue. This time, she was front and center.
The 30-year-old middle blocker delivered a team-high 17 points on 13 attacks, three blocks and an ace, providing a steady scoring presence rarely seen from her position.
“Today, she scored simply 17 points in three sets. Honestly, when you have probably one of the two best players that you have and you don't have the possibility to play with her, the situation changes,” Guidetti added.
“With MJ, we have three rotations that we have side-outs. I don't want to say automatically, but more or less, yes, [it works], so it's a balance.”
With Phillips anchoring the middle, Nxled looked like a completely different team, one that had the answers this time around.
Now just one win away from the semifinals against Farm Fresh after the Holy Week break, Guidetti kept things in perspective.
“Today, we were complete, and that's the key,” he said.
“I am not that full of myself to tell you that I have done something special, but this is a great team. When they play together, they play great.”
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