Nxled goes for first crown vs Est Cola

MANILA, Philippines —  For the first time in franchise history, the Nxled Chameleons will battle for the crown in the Premier Volleyball League.

Expect them to not be content in just making the finale. They’re bent on going for ultimate glory as they clash with Thailand’s Est Cola in a titular tiff today in the PVL Invitational at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Nxled made the final, thanks to a four-set win over Farm Fresh Sunday and an unlikely help from PLDT, which denied Creamline a final seat following an epic 25-17, 23-25, 21-25, 25-23, 15-12 win the same day.

The Chameleons actually ended up tied with the Cool Smashers and the High Speed Hitters at second spot on 3-2 records but took the last final ticket after emerging with the highest FIVB tiebreak points of 10 as against Creamline’s nine and PLDT’s eight.

The Thais took the first seat to the 6:30 p.m. finale with a 4-1 mark.

Nxled will come in as the underdog after succumbing to Est Cola in their face-off in the elimination round, 26-24, 21-25, 21-25, 30-28, 15-12, last Sept. 3.

It also won’t help if Brooke Van Sickle, the team’s most lethal weapon, would sit out another match due to shoulder issues.

The Chameleons, though, are hoping and praying Van Sickle would play in the franchise’s most important match to date.

Van Sickle, of course, is the heart and soul of the club that had already surpassed its two fifth-place finishes in the past.

But nothing, of course, beats winning it all.

Somehow, Nxled has managed to survive without Van Sickle, thanks mostly to MJ Phillips, who uncorked 25 points in their last win.

“I couldn’t have done this without my team,” said Phillips.