The Nxled Chameleons made sure history would not repeat itself. And MJ Philiips helped ensure it.
After suffering a four-set loss to the Galeries Tower Highrisers in the elimination round—a defeat that sparked a four-game skid and hurt their standing—Nxled came in better equipped for their rematch in the play-in tournament of the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
This time, with a complete lineup, the Chameleons delivered a straight-sets victory, 25-23, 25-18, 25-23, to exact revenge behind MJ Phillips’ 17-point performance.
For head coach Ettore Guidetti, the difference was clear.
“Well, do you want me to be honest or polite?” he said. “First of all, we didn’t play with MJ Phillips last time. She had a minor knee problem, so we couldn’t field her.”
“And today, she scored 17 points in just three sets. Honestly, when one of your two best players is unavailable, it changes the whole situation. With MJ, we have three rotations we can rely on for side-outs. I don’t want to say it’s automatic, but more or less, yes—it gives us balance.”
MJ Phillips Provides More Than Just Stats
MJ Phillips’ presence gave Nxled stability on both ends, something they lacked in their previous meeting with the Highrisers.
The Chameleons also regained another key piece, with veteran setter Djanel Cheng returning to action after missing their earlier matchup.
“Also, to be honest, we had a little misunderstanding about Cheng’s physical condition last time, so I couldn’t play her. She helps a lot in every single game,” Guidetti said.
“So today, we were complete. And that’s the key. I’m not so full of myself to say I did something special. This is a great team. When they play together, they play great.”
MJ Phillips and the rest of the Chameleons will next face the Farm Fresh Foxies on Tuesday, April 7, at the FilOil Centre in the continuation of the Play-In Tournament.
