Nxled flexed its depth and composure when it mattered most, overwhelming Galeries Tower, 25-23, 25-18, 25-23, to keep its semifinal hopes alive in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Saturday.

In a match that underscored the Chameleons’ edge in manpower and late-game poise, Nxled weathered a tight, error-filled opening set before asserting control in the second and delivering a clutch finish in the third.

Set 1 was a tense back-and-forth marked by cautious play and miscues, with neither side able to create separation. But the Chameleons leaned on their deeper rotation and sharper execution in Set 2 to take command, then showed resilience in Set 3 – overcoming an 18-21 deficit with a decisive 7-2 closing run.

MJ Phillips ignited the turnaround with a signature quick hit, while a Jean Asis attack error pulled Nxled within one. Though Myla Pablo’s service miscue briefly slowed their charge, the Chameleons’ suffocating net defense took over down the stretch.

Erika Deloria kept the Highrisers afloat with a timely response to a block on Aiza Pontillas for a 23-21 edge, but Nxled’s depth again proved decisive. Brooke Van Sickle came off the bench to deliver a crucial hit, then denied Pontillas at the net to force a 23-all count.

From there, it was all Nxled. Phillips slipped in a perfectly placed ace between two defenders, and Van Sickle sealed the match with another block on Pontillas, capping a composed finish that booked the Chameleons a showdown with the Farm Fresh Foxies for one of the last two Final Four berths after the Holy Week break.

“We just really locked in and watched a lot of films. We knew we made a lot of mistakes back then and we wanted to correct them. I think we did really well today,” said Phillips, referencing their four-set loss to the Highrisers last Feb. 19 that snapped an early three-game run and triggered a four-match skid.

Phillips delivered 17 points, including three blocks, to earn Best Player of the Game honors in the one-hour, 33-minute contest.

“Just composure, take it one game at a time. I know it’s kind of stressful at this stage of the tournament. We just have to keep coming together, build that chemistry and get that win,” she added.

Van Sickle contributed 14 points and nine excellent digs, while Pablo chipped in 10 markers. Ranya Musa and Jonah Escamillan added five points apiece, further highlighting Nxled’s balanced attack.

Deloria led Galeries Tower, which swept Capital1 to live another day, with 13 points, while Asis added 11, Roselle Baliton had nine, and Pontillas finished with eight. But the veteran Ilongga hitter struggled late against Nxled’s disciplined blocking.

Nxled held a narrow edge in all scoring departments – attacks (42-40), blocks (8-7), and aces (4-2) – but made the bigger difference capitalizing on Galeries Tower’s erratic play, scoring 21 points off errors while conceding 15.