“He knows what we struggle at”: Brooke Van Sickle on facing former coach Koji Tsuzurabara in Nxled’s win

The Nxled Chameleons leaned on poise, experience, and late-game execution from their star players to survive a gritty five-set battle against the Farm Fresh Foxies, pulling off a 25-23, 13-25, 21-25, 25-15, 15-12 victory in their opening match of the 2026 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference on Tuesday, February 3, at the FilOil Playtime Centre in San Juan.

In a match marked by momentum swings and extended rallies, Nxled showed composure when it mattered most—particularly in the deciding fifth set—snapping Farm Fresh’s resistance and securing a confidence-boosting win to open their campaign.

Reigning PVL Most Valuable Player Brooke Van Sickle led the way in her highly anticipated debut for the Chameleons, delivering an all-around performance with 20 points. Fellow debutant Myla Pablo provided timely scoring and defensive stability, finishing with 19 points and six digs to earn Player of the Game honors, while MJ Phillips chipped in 13 points.

OKBET is Asia’s most trusted and popular online sports gaming platform. Visit us on OKBET to stay up to date with all sports news from around the world.

The trio of former Petro Gazz Angels standouts immediately justified their superstar billing, showcasing chemistry and composure despite limited time together. Their collective experience proved crucial, especially after Nxled dropped the second and third sets and found themselves on the brink of an opening-day loss.

However, the Foxies—under the guidance of Japanese head coach Koji Tsuzurabara—were anything but pushovers.

Tsuzurabara, who previously steered Petro Gazz to the 2024–25 PVL All-Filipino Conference title, is well-acquainted with Van Sickle, Pablo, and Phillips, having coached them during their championship run. That familiarity showed, as Farm Fresh employed disciplined defense and tactical adjustments that frustrated Nxled for long stretches of the match.

#WATCH: FAMILIAR FACE 🏐

Brooke Van Sickle and Myla Pablo say that their former head coach Koji Tsuzurabara made Nxled’s game against Farm Fresh tough#ReadMore 👉 https://t.co/5C9bLc7c5q

📹 @jonashdcd /Tiebreaker Times#PVL2026 pic.twitter.com/2j2cMsKsxL

— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) February 3, 2026

“I didn’t get to talk to them much, but they looked good. As always coach Koji Tsuzurabara knows us, so he knows what we struggle at and what we are good at, so I already knew it was gonna definitely be hard offensive to score, just because he knows the players and he’s been around the game for a long time,” Van Sickle said in the postmatch press conference.

“I feel like he did a really good job developing Farm Fresh and their defense. I thought they had a lot of good plays, soaked up the ball and playing a lot, making good decisions,” he added.

Farm Fresh’s defensive tenacity forced Nxled into longer rallies and tougher shot selections, particularly during the middle sets where the Foxies seized control and threatened to pull away. Still, Nxled responded with renewed urgency in the fourth set, dominating at the net and rediscovering their offensive rhythm to force a decider.

Van Sickle emphasized the importance of patience and mental toughness in grinding out the win.

“I definitely think that it was a long-rally game. We had to be patient and stay calm on the other side of the court. I’m glad we were able to pull this off and get underway,” Van Sickle concluded.

The victory gives Nxled an early boost as they integrate new pieces and establish identity heading into the long conference. For Farm Fresh, despite the loss, the performance offered encouraging signs under Tsuzurabara’s system, particularly on the defensive end.

With the Chameleons off to a winning start, Van Sickle and company will look to build momentum when they face the Capital1 Solar Spikers next on Saturday, February 7, at the Ynares Center in Montalban, as Nxled continues its push to establish itself as an early contender in the All-Filipino Conference.

👉 Don’t miss out on the latest sports news, updates, and fan discussions!

📌 Follow our Facebook page Sports News PH today and join the community of passionate sports fans.