(Photo courtesy of PVL)
Nxled aims to extend its unbeaten run and move into a tie for the lead when it faces Choco Mucho in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference Siklab Series on Tuesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Chameleons, who have swept their first three matches, will take on the Flying Titans at 6 p.m. in a showdown between two of the tournament’s leading contenders.
Nxled head coach Ettore Guidetti acknowledged the challenge posed by Choco Mucho, which features several experienced and talented players.
“I have shivers, as usual. No, they are playing really good. This is another super high level and talented team. You know, there is (Sisi) Rondina, there is (Eya) Laure, there is a bunch of super very good players,” Guidetti said.
“So we will try to prepare the game at our best as usual. To study what they do, to perform at our best. And then, hopefully, we continue to block.”
Nxled will rely on Brooke Van Sickle, Jonah Escamillan, Myla Pablo, MJ Phillips and setter Gel Gayuna as it seeks to preserve its perfect record.
Creamline currently leads the standings with a 4-0 record, while Choco Mucho sits in third place at 3-1.
Farm Fresh, Akari and PLDT share identical 2-2 records, followed by Capital1 at 2-3.
Despite Nxled’s strong start, Choco Mucho is expected to provide a tough challenge behind the offensive firepower of Eya Laure and Sisi Rondina-Rosales.
Flying Titans head coach Dante Alinsunurin said his team has been using the extended break to prepare for the matchup.
“I challenged the team na mahaba yung break, tapos Nxled ang kalaban namin. Sabi ko sa kanila, kailangan namin paghandaan (I challenged the team because the break is long, and our next opponent is Nxled. I told them that we need to prepare for it),” Alinsunurin said.
Laure and Rondina-Rosales will receive support from Jackie Acuña, Leyann de Guzman and Jovelyn Fernandez as Choco Mucho looks to hand the Chameleons their first defeat.
In the opening PVL match at 1 p.m., Galeries Tower will attempt to secure its first victory of the conference against Akari.
The Highrisers will be led by Aiza Pontillas, Jean Asis, Erika Deloria and Shola Alvarez.
Akari, meanwhile, will bank on Eli Soyud, who delivered a 30-point performance against Farm Fresh, alongside Ivy Lacsina and Fifi Sharma.
In the men’s Spikers’ Turf competition, Clearskiin will seek to claim the solo lead when it battles the winless Armed Forces of the Philippines at 3:30 p.m.
The UV Smashers currently share the top spot with National University-Archipelago Builders and Criss Cross King Crunchers, with all three teams sporting identical 3-0 records.
