Cayuna, Chameleons target first franchise title
The wait, for Nxled, was almost as nerve-wracking as its own survival match.
In fact, for setter Gel Cayuna, it was more tense.
“Personally, I was more nervous watching the other teams play than during our own game,” she said.
Cayuna and the Chameleons secured at least a battle for bronze berth after beating the Farm Fresh Foxies, 25-20, 25-21, 18-25, 25-22, in the first game of Sunday’s triple header.
“After our game against Farm Fresh, there was nothing else we could do but wait and hope the results [of the other games] would go our way,” the new Nxled setter told the Inquirer in Filipino.
To book their breakthrough PVL finals appearance, they needed a losing result from either EST Cola of Thailand or Creamline, which was led by the 6-foot-5 Jaja Santiago-Minowa.
The Thais made short work of Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City in straight sets to dash that Nxled path and reach their own route to their first-ever PVL finals.
That EST win, the guest team’s fourth straight, also dethroned PLDT even before its match against Creamline, which put the Chameleons last hope hanging by a thread.
However, despite being relegated to the battle for third, Savi Davison played her heart out and set a new career-high 37 points, as PLDT clipped Creamline, and forged a 25-17, 23-25, 21-25, 25-23, 15-12 victory on Sunday night at Smart Araneta Coliseum despite Santiago-Minowa’s nine blocks and 25 points.
That also gave Nxled its first PVL Finals appearance as it battles EST Cola in a winner-take-all duel on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
“It was really exciting and fulfilling to get the result we needed, especially since making the Finals was no longer in our control,” said Cayuna, as all three teams finished at 3-2 (win-loss).
Nxled advanced through the FIVB point-system tiebreak with 10 points, ahead of Creamline’s nine and PLDT’s eight.
In just her second tournament as a Chameleon, the two-time Season Best Setter has adapted to the system of Nxled under Italian coach Ettore Guidetti and the core composed of champion players from the defunct Petro Gazz.
“It’s very fulfilling, especially considering how little time we had together to prepare and build our connection as a team. I’m grateful that we’re finally seeing the results of all our hard work,” Cayuna said on the heels of the milestone achieved despite missing three-time MVP Brooke Van Sickle due to a shoulder injury.
“And knowing that this is Nxled’s first time reaching the Finals makes it even more special for all of us.”
Cayuna has been maximizing the talent around her, with MJ Phillips and her fellow ex-Cignal Jackie Acuña manning the middle, while Jonah Sabete-Escamillan, EJ Laure-Cariño and Myla Pablo led the offense.
It will be Cayuna’s fourth PVL finals—settling for bridesmaid finishes in her first three with Cignal, including the All-Filipino Conference last May just days before her previous team filed for leave of absence.
As one of the most experienced players for first-time finalist Nxled, the Far Eastern University product gets another shot at an elusive PVL title against an international club.
“There’s really nothing new with my mindset. For me, every game is important, so you always have to prepare mentally and physically. Every game, you have to give your best,” said Cayuna.
