Nxled vet takes over in crunch

MANILA, Philippines — Nxled leaned on its imposing blocking wall and Myla Pablo’s clutch heroics to fend off a determined Farm Fresh comeback, 25-19, 25-17, 23-25, 20-25, 15-12, in the PVL All-Filipino Conference Siklab Series at the Filoil Centre yesterday.

The Chameleons unleashed 23 blocks against just six by the Foxies, then turned to the seasoned Pablo in the deciding set to recover from a two-set meltdown and go 2-0. They joined Choco Mucho atop the early standings.

Farm Fresh, meanwhile, dropped to 1-1 in the three-series conference.

Despite yielding Best Player of the Game honors to Brooke Van Sickle, Pablo delivered when it mattered most, scoring Nxled’s final four points to cap a tense fifth-set battle and deny the Foxies a stunning reversal.

Meanwhile, Creamline shook off a rare first-set stumble against unfancied Galeries Tower to fashion out a 27-29, 25-18, 25-19, 25-18 victory and force a three-way tie for the lead.

Nxled clawed back from a 0-2 deficit in the decider to draw level at five before surviving four more deadlocks and taking an 8-7 lead at the changeover on three straight hits by Van Sickle.

After MJ Phillips broke the last tie at nine with a putaway off a Farm Fresh overpass, the Chameleons moved two points clear, 11-9, on a Ces Molina attack error.

Pablo then took command, scoring three consecutive points.