Brooke Van Sickle commends team effort as Nxled keeps PVL semis bid alive

The Nxled Chameleons may not have fully found their rhythm in the 2026 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference, but they continue to show resilience and composure when it matters most—keeping their semifinal hopes alive with a crucial victory.

Nxled booked their spot in the next phase of the Play-In round after sweeping the Galeries Tower Highrisers, 25-23, 25-18, 25-23, on Saturday, March 28, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. While the straight-sets result suggested control, the contest itself was far from straightforward, as the Chameleons had to fend off multiple surges from a determined Galeries side that refused to back down.

From the opening set, Nxled was forced to stay sharp against a Highrisers squad that had already proven capable of pulling off upsets earlier in the conference. The Chameleons leaned on their experience in the closing moments of each set, particularly in the first and third frames where execution in crunch time spelled the difference.

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Leading the charge was team captain Brooke Van Sickle, who once again anchored Nxled with her leadership and steady presence on the court. Beyond her on-court contributions, Van Sickle emphasized the importance of composure and unity, especially against an opponent that had previously tested them.

“Early in the preliminaries, Galeries upset some teams, especially us. I already knew they were going to be tough and come out firing. Even in the third set, they were still battling until the end, so we just stayed calm and collected,” Van Sickle said.

Despite some inconsistencies throughout the conference, the Chameleons showed flashes of cohesion and mental toughness—qualities that could prove crucial as the competition intensifies. Van Sickle highlighted the team’s ability to stay together through adversity, pointing to their collective effort rather than individual brilliance.

CHAMELEONS AVOID REPEAT LOSS AGAINST HIGHRISERS

Nxled head coach Ettore Guidetti, captain Brooke Van Sickle, and spiker Myla Pablo speak on their straight-set win over Galeries in the #PVL2026 play-in tourney to keep themselves in the hunt. | via @kennedyzcaacbay pic.twitter.com/UCBoPAMaLh

— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) March 28, 2026

“There were a few road bumps, but I’m proud of all the girls for sticking together and working as a team, whoever was on the court. I’m really proud of everyone,” she added.

The win not only keeps Nxled in contention but also reinforces their identity as a team capable of grinding out results even without playing at peak form. Contributions came from across the roster, with different players stepping up in key moments to maintain control whenever Galeries threatened to swing momentum.

Van Sickle, who holds the distinction of being the first-ever Most Valuable Player in PVL history, also took time to acknowledge the growth and potential of their opponents. The Galeries Tower Highrisers, one of the younger squads in the league, showed significant promise throughout the conference and pushed Nxled to stay disciplined until the final point.

“I thought Galeries had a really good run. They are going to be very lethal in the future. They already did well,” Van Sickle concluded.

With the victory, Nxled now turns its attention to an even tougher challenge ahead. The Chameleons will face the Farm Fresh Foxies on Tuesday, April 7, at the FilOil Centre, with a coveted semifinal berth on the line. As the stakes rise, Nxled will need to elevate its level of play and maintain the composure that carried them through this latest test if they hope to extend their campaign deeper into the conference.

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