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Category: Volleyball

  • Marck Espejo makes instant impact as Skyhawks soar in Taiwan debut

    Marck Espejo makes instant impact as Skyhawks soar in Taiwan debut

    Marck Espejo didn’t need a warm-up period to announce his arrival in Taiwan — he made sure everyone noticed right away.

     

    Suiting up for TSG Skyhawks for the first time, the Alas Pilipinas Men standout delivered a composed and efficient debut, helping power his new club to a 25-23, 17-25, 25-16, 27-25 win over the Taoyuan Leopards on Saturday in the Taiwan Professional Volleyball League.

     

    Playing in front of an energized home crowd at Fengshan Arena, Espejo finished with 11 points built on nine attacks, one block, and one service ace, quickly earning recognition as one of TSG’s top players of the game in his first appearance with the team.

     

    Inserted straight into the rotation, Espejo gave the Skyhawks exactly what they were looking for — a reliable scoring option who could deliver under pressure. His presence was felt most in the tense fourth set, where TSG fended off a late Leopards surge and showed poise in the closing points to lock up the victory in four sets.

     

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    Espejo’s versatility proved crucial, allowing the Skyhawks to keep their offense balanced and unpredictable as the match tightened. That stability helped halt Taoyuan’s momentum and ensured TSG avoided a deciding fifth set.

     

    The win also carried weight in the standings. Espejo’s debut helped the Skyhawks shake off a brief slump and secure back-to-back victories after previously dropping two straight matches. With the result, TSG stayed firm in second place in the four-team league at 19–12.

     

    Standing in their way at the top are Win Streak, the former club of fellow Alas Men star Bryan Bagunas, which owns a commanding 28–3 record. Bagunas previously led Win Streak to back-to-back championships in 2024 and was named league MVP the year before.

     

    For Espejo, the performance was a promising opening chapter in his seventh overseas stint, signaling his readiness to help TSG make a strong push in the season’s second half. If Saturday was any indication, the Skyhawks may have found the spark they were missing.

     

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  • Bernadeth Pons brings championship fire back to Creamline as Cool Smashers reload for PVL All-Filipino Conference

    Bernadeth Pons brings championship fire back to Creamline as Cool Smashers reload for PVL All-Filipino Conference

    Creamline’s road back to the summit begins with a familiar spark — and this time, it’s coming straight from the sand.

     

    As the Cool Smashers gear up for the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference, the return of Bernadeth Pons signals more than just a roster boost. It marks a reset for a franchise that experienced something unfamiliar in 2025: a season without a title.

     

    Pons’ absence last year, a conscious decision to focus on beach volleyball, coincided with Creamline’s rare dry spell — their first since the pandemic interrupted league play. 

     

    While the trophies stopped coming indoors, Pons was quietly building momentum elsewhere. Alongside fellow Cool Smasher Dij Rodriguez, she reached the top of the podium at the 33rd SEA Games women’s beach volleyball tournament in Thailand, delivering international gold even as the club recalibrated at home.

     

    Now, with that chapter closed, Pons is back where she has long thrived — the hard court — carrying the urgency of unfinished business.

     

    Fresh from their SEA Games triumph on November 19, Pons and Rodriguez wasted no time easing back in. Training resumed shortly after New Year’s Day, with the duo rejoining Creamline sessions as early as January 2, a move that underscored the team’s renewed sense of purpose.

     

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    “’Yung goal talaga namin is makabalik sa taas, pero siyempre, hindi siya ganun kadaling makuha kaya everyday namin ‘yun paghahandaan talaga,” Pons said.


     “Simula January 2 pa lang, bumalik na kami, nag-ensayo na kami kaya paghihirapan talaga namin.”

     

    Creamline’s identity, after all, has never revolved around a single name. Across 10 championship runs, the Cool Smashers built their dynasty on depth, continuity, and chemistry — elements now coming back into focus. The expected returns of Jia de Guzman, Jema Galanza, and Bea de Leon have only amplified belief within the camp.

     

    “Sobrang saya kasi kumpleto na talaga kami,” Pons said. “Lahat kami nandito na. Si Jia, nandiyan na. ‘Yung mga injured before, makakabalik na rin so kumpleto talaga kami ngayon.”

     

    For Pons, the transition back to indoor volleyball has been intentional rather than rushed. Nearly all of 2025 was spent on sand as part of Alas Pilipinas Women’s Beach Volleyball’s SEA Games buildup, and while her fitness level remains high, the adjustment hasn’t been seamless.

     

    “Physically, siguro conditioned pa kami coming from beach [volleyball]. ‘Yung medyo mahirap and challenging sa’min is yung hard floor ulit,” Pons admitted.


     “Eight months kami nasa sand so mahirap din pagbalik. Pati rin ‘yung timing namin sa palo, medyo off pa.

     

    “’Yun pa ‘yung wino-workout namin everyday sa ensayo namin and hopefully, magtuloy-tuloy ‘yung progress.”

     

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  • Eya Laure’s long-awaited PVL return headlines Choco Mucho opener

    Eya Laure’s long-awaited PVL return headlines Choco Mucho opener

    Nearly two years after she last stepped onto a PVL court, Eya Laure is finally back — and her return immediately takes center stage in the opening act of the 2026 All-Filipino Conference.

     

    Laure’s long-awaited comeback will headline opening day on January 31 at the Playtime Filoil Centre, when Choco Mucho faces reigning bronze medalist Akari in the 6:30 p.m. main game. It will be Laure’s first PVL appearance in 656 days, almost 20 months since her final match with now-defunct Chery Tiggo during the 2024 All-Filipino Conference.

     

    Her absence left a noticeable void in the league. Once regarded as one of the most electric scorers of her generation, Laure steps back into the PVL at a time when the balance of power has shifted and the title picture appears more open than ever.

     

    For Choco Mucho, her arrival represents both a statement and a reset — a chance to reintroduce a proven game-changer into a roster eager to break through.

     

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    Laure will not be alone in her return. Former Choco Mucho captain Sisi Rondina is also set to reappear in league play after stepping away to focus on beach volleyball, a gamble that paid off with a SEA Games gold medal. Their reunion adds an emotional and competitive layer from being teammates in UST to a Flying Titans squad that is clearly intent on making noise early.

     

    While the spotlight firmly rests on Laure, the opener also provides an immediate test against an Akari side that finished on the podium last conference and enters the season with momentum. The matchup offers an early gauge of how quickly Laure can settle back into PVL intensity and how Choco Mucho plans to structure its offense around her presence.

     

    The league’s opening day begins earlier with a clash between Cignal and Galeries Tower, but it is Laure’s return that anchors the narrative of the conference’s opening night. Beyond January 31, the PVL has already mapped out the first three weeks of action, including a highly anticipated Rebisco Clasico between Choco Mucho and Creamline on February 10 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

     

    For now, however, all eyes remain on Laure. After months of anticipation and a long road back, her return signals not just the comeback of a star, but the reintroduction of a player capable of reshaping the rhythm — and expectations — of the PVL season.

     

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  • PVL opens 2026 All-Filipino Conference on January 31 under new format

    PVL opens 2026 All-Filipino Conference on January 31 under new format

    The Premier Volleyball League’s most prestigious tournament returns on January 31, but the 2026 All-Filipino Conference will look and feel very different from the editions that came before it.

    Rather than hinging solely on star power or pedigree, this season-ender is built around a competition format that puts a premium on consistency, depth, and the ability to peak at the right time. 

     

    With a trimmed 10-team field and a structure designed to keep contenders alive deeper into the tournament, the PVL is bracing for one of its most unpredictable title races yet.

     

    At the heart of the new setup is a bold incentive: any team that sweeps the single round-robin eliminations earns an automatic ticket to the semifinals.

     

     It’s a reward meant to separate the truly dominant from the rest, though in a field where lineups are widely viewed as evenly matched, pulling off a perfect elims run borders on unrealistic.

     

    If no team manages that feat, the race tightens further. The top four squads advance to the Qualifying Round, where knockout games determine who moves on. But unlike past conferences, losing doesn’t immediately spell the end.

     

     Instead, those teams drop into the newly introduced Play-In Stepladder phase, where squads ranked fifth through 10th are given a lifeline — and a chance to flip the script with a timely surge.

    The format ensures urgency from opening day to the final whistle. 

     

    Every set matters, with rankings determined by the FIVB Team Classification System, which weighs wins, set ratio, and points ratio to maintain competitive balance and transparency.

     

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    Once the field narrows, the semifinals will unfold via a single round-robin, again using FIVB standards, before the top two teams collide in a best-of-three Finals at the Araneta Coliseum. Sports Vision has penciled in April 28 as the target date for crowning a champion.

     

    The opening salvo comes at the FilOil Playtime Centre in San Juan, with Galeries Tower and Cignal kicking off the season at 4 p.m., followed by Akari’s early test against a reinforced Choco Mucho squad at 6:30 p.m. The schedule continues to deliver intrigue in the days that follow, highlighted by Farm Fresh versus a revamped Nxled, ZUS Coffee taking on Capital1, and Creamline’s much-anticipated debut against PLDT on February 5.

     

    Off the court, the league’s reshaped landscape may be the biggest storyline of all. With defending champion Petro Gazz on hiatus and Chery Tiggo stepping away, talent has been redistributed rather than lost. 

     

    Nowhere is that more evident than in Nxled, bolstered by former Petro Gazz standouts and guided by coach Ettore Guidetti, who believes the Chameleons are primed for a significant leap forward.

     

    Still, the path to the title continues to run through the Cool Smashers — but the gap is narrowing. Choco Mucho gets a boost from the return of Sisi Rondina, while PLDT, Farm Fresh, and Akari remain intact and hungry. ZUS Coffee, fresh off a Finals appearance in the Reinforced Conference, aims to prove that its breakthrough was no fluke.

     

    With fewer teams, a sharper format, and pressure baked into every stage, the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference isn’t just another season-ender. It’s shaping up as a proving ground — where balance, resilience, and timing could matter just as much as raw talent.

     

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  • Marck Espejo takes talents to Taiwan, joins TSK Skyhawks 

    Marck Espejo takes talents to Taiwan, joins TSK Skyhawks 

    Marck Espejo’s volleyball journey continues to stretch beyond borders, with the Filipino star set to suit up for TSG Skyhawks in the Taiwan Professional Volleyball League — another stamp in a passport already filled with elite stops around Asia.

     

    At 28, Espejo is no stranger to packing his bags. Taiwan becomes the fifth country he has competed in professionally, marking his seventh international stint and reinforcing his status as one of the most well-traveled players Philippine volleyball has produced.

     

    Rather than chasing comfort, Espejo has consistently sought growth. His career path has taken him through multiple high-level systems — from Japan’s demanding leagues, where he had three separate stints, to competitive environments in Thailand, Bahrain, and Korea.

     

    Each stop sharpened his game and expanded his role from prolific scorer to battle-tested leader.

     

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    His overseas resume includes appearances for Oita Miyoshi Weisse Adler, FC Tokyo and Kubota Spears Osaka in Japan, Visakha in Thailand, Bani Jamra in Bahrain, and Incheon in Korea — a collection that reflects both longevity and adaptability at the professional level.

     

    Espejo arrives in Taiwan riding the momentum of a strong international year. He was part of Alas Pilipinas’ bronze-medal finish at the 2025 SEA Games and figured prominently in the national team’s landmark campaign at the 2025 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship, highlighted by a breakthrough victory over African champion Egypt and a near-upset of Asian powerhouse Iran.

     

    With TSG Skyhawks, Espejo adds not just firepower on the wing, but also the perspective of an athlete shaped by multiple volleyball cultures. As his career continues to unfold across continents, one thing remains consistent — wherever he plays, Espejo carries the Philippine flag with him.

     

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  • Can Creamline’s projected starting six bring the Cool Smashers back to PVL glory?

    Can Creamline’s projected starting six bring the Cool Smashers back to PVL glory?

    After a rare championship drought in 2025, the Creamline Cool Smashers are positioning themselves for a familiar role in 2026 — contenders with something to prove — as they enter the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference armed with a projected starting six built on experience, balance, and renewed hunger.

     

    Despite extending their league-record streak to 19 consecutive podium finishes, Creamline endured an uncharacteristic title-less year across all PVL conferences in 2025. The spotlight instead shone on the PLDT High Speed Hitters and Petro Gazz Angels, who split the season’s four championships and effectively disrupted what had long been Creamline’s near-monopoly on PVL dominance. For a franchise accustomed to setting the standard, the setback served less as a decline and more as a wake-up call.

     

    Central to Creamline’s recalibration is the acquisition of Jeniffer Nierva, widely regarded as one of the best defensive specialists in the country. The former Chery Tiggo Crossover brings elite floor coverage, sharper serve reception, and faster defensive reads — areas where Creamline showed vulnerability last season, particularly in extended rallies and transition defense.

     

    Analysts from multiple volleyball outlets have noted that Nierva’s arrival could be the single most impactful offseason move in the All-Filipino Conference, addressing a weakness without sacrificing offensive structure.

     

    Up front, Bernadeth Pons returns energized after a successful stint with Alas Pilipinas beach, highlighted by a Southeast Asian Games beach volleyball gold medal. Her dual-discipline experience has sharpened her all-around game, and her presence adds composure and flexibility to Creamline’s wing rotation. 

     

    Pons, the former 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference MVP and Finals MVP with Creamline has openly spoken about the team’s renewed mindset, emphasizing that early January training camps focused on cohesion and accountability after last season’s frustrations.

     

    Holding the middle is Bea De Leon, whose value extends beyond box scores. A consistent force at the net, the former UAAP Season 81 Finals MVP remains one of the league’s most reliable blockers and an underrated offensive option in quick sets. Her ability to disrupt opposing attacks has long been a pillar of Creamline’s defensive identity, and her leadership provides continuity as the team integrates new pieces.

     

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    Guiding the offense is Jia De Guzman, the reigning Alas Pilipinas captain and widely considered the best setter of her generation. De Guzman’s return ensures tempo control, efficient ball distribution, and tactical flexibility — critical in an All-Filipino Conference where depth and system execution often separate contenders from champions. With De Guzman orchestrating, Creamline regains its ability to vary pace and exploit mismatches, a hallmark of its championship runs.

     

    On the wings, Jema Galanza’s return from injury restores a proven closer to the lineup. When healthy, the two-time PVL MVP and former Adamson standout has consistently delivered in high-pressure moments, combining power with court awareness that few defenders can neutralize. Alongside her, Tots Carlos remains the offensive constant — a scorer capable of producing across rotations and carrying stretches when the offense stalls. Together, they form one of the most feared wing tandems in the league.

     

    This projected starting six reflects more than just talent; it reflects intent. Creamline’s offseason moves signal a strategic response to its sixth-place finish in the 2025 Reinforced Conference, its lowest placement since joining the professional ranks. Rather than overhauling the roster, the Cool Smashers opted for precision — reinforcing defense, restoring health, and leaning into their championship core.

     

    Historically, Creamline’s pedigree speaks for itself. The Cool Smashers are the winningest franchise in PVL history, owning 10 league championships across various conferences and more finals appearances than any other team, and the only team to win a Grand Slam by winning all three conferences in 2024. Since their debut, they have built a culture defined by consistency, adaptability, and postseason excellence — traits that remain intact despite last year’s setbacks.

     

    With the All-Filipino Conference placing a premium on chemistry and system play over import-driven firepower, Creamline appears well-suited for a return to form. With the league losing two of its powerhouse teams in Chery Tiggo and Petro Gazz, the Cool Smashers are poised to remain one of the top teams of the PVL. 

     

    For the rest of the league, the message is familiar — and unsettling: the Cool Smashers are reloaded, refocused, and once again ready to chase the crown.

     

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  • PNVF, PVL partner to strengthen Philippine women’s volleyball pipeline

    PNVF, PVL partner to strengthen Philippine women’s volleyball pipeline

    Newly elected Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) president Tony Boy Liao recently confirmed plans to address the federation’s longstanding differences with the Premier Volleyball League (PVL), a move aimed at strengthening the development pipeline for the national team following the country’s performance at the 2025 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in Bangkok, Thailand.

     

    While 2025 has been a generally productive year for Philippine women’s volleyball, the SEA Games marked a notable setback. Alas Pilipinas, the national women’s squad, finished fourth in Bangkok, extending the country’s volleyball medal drought at the SEA Games to 20 years. This came despite earlier successes in the year, including a historic silver medal at the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Nations Cup and two bronze medals in the Southeast Asian Volleyball League, which demonstrated the team’s growing competitiveness in regional competitions.

     

    During the tenure of former PNVF president Tats Suzara, tensions reportedly arose between the federation and the PVL over the release of top professional players for national team duty. Of the 14 players on the SEA Games roster, nine were drawn from the PVL, highlighting the league’s importance to national team success. However, scheduling conflicts, particularly during the critical May-to-September international window, frequently became a source of friction between PVL team owners and the national federation. These conflicts occasionally hindered the national team’s preparation for international tournaments.

     

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    Upon taking office, Tony Boy Liao emphasized collaboration and unity as central pillars of his leadership. In line with this vision, the PNVF has now announced a formal partnership with the PVL, designed to foster closer coordination between the federation and the country’s premier professional volleyball league. The goal is to ensure that national team selections are streamlined, players are available for key international competitions, and the overall talent pool for Philippine women’s volleyball continues to grow.

     

    Under this partnership, PVL players will be invited to try out for the Alas Pilipinas women’s team, giving professional athletes the opportunity to compete for national team spots in a structured and transparent process. The tryouts will also be open to standout athletes from collegiate and university programs, allowing the federation to identify promising talent across multiple levels of Philippine volleyball.

    “As part of this collaboration, an invitational tryout for the Alas Pilipinas women’s team will open to PVL players. It will also be open to athletes from university and collegiate programs,” the PNVF stated.

     

    The federation added: “This partnership is a significant step toward the betterment of Philippine volleyball, strengthening collaboration between national, professional, and collegiate programs. Together, PNVF and PVL are committed to developing elite athletes, expanding opportunities, and building a stronger future for Philippine volleyball.”

     

    Volleyball analysts say the move could be a turning point for the sport in the Philippines, as it not only addresses historical scheduling and player availability conflicts but also creates a clearer pathway from collegiate and professional programs to the national team. By widening the pool of eligible players and formalizing coordination between leagues, the PNVF-PVL partnership may help ensure that the national team can compete at the highest level in upcoming regional and international tournaments, including the Asian Games and future SEA Games editions.

     

    For Tony Boy Liao and the PNVF, the collaboration signals a new era of unity and strategic planning in Philippine volleyball. With professional, collegiate, and national programs now working in tandem, the federation aims to build a sustainable system that nurtures talent, develops elite athletes, and restores the country’s standing in regional and global competitions.

     

    As preparations ramp up for the next SEA Games cycle, volleyball fans across the Philippines will be watching closely, hopeful that this strengthened partnership will finally end decades of near-misses and deliver lasting success for Alas Pilipinas.

     

     

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  • Bryan Bagunas, Bella Belen named Mr. and Ms. Volleyball by SMC-PSA Awards 

    Bryan Bagunas, Bella Belen named Mr. and Ms. Volleyball by SMC-PSA Awards 

    Philippine volleyball takes center stage at the San Miguel Corporation–Philippine Sportswriters Association (SMC-PSA) Awards Night as Bryan Bagunas and Bella Belen are set to be recognized as Mr. and Ms. Volleyball, underscoring a year where both stars carried the sport to new heights locally and internationally.

     

    Scheduled on February 16 at the Diamond Hotel Manila, the annual gala will once again gather the country’s sporting elite, with Bagunas and Belen joining a distinguished roll of honorees for 2025 led by Athletes of the Year Carlos Yulo and Alex Eala.

     

    The event is supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, MILO, Cignal, PVL, PBA, Akari, Rain or Shine, Capital1 Solar Energy, and Acrocity.

     

    For Bagunas, the award reflects a year defined by historic firsts. The 28-year-old opposite hitter from Balayan, Batangas was at the forefront of Alas Pilipinas’ breakthrough appearance in the FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship, hosted by the Philippines for the first time. 

     

    That campaign included a landmark victory over world No. 21 Egypt — the national team’s first-ever win on the world stage — and a heart-stopping five-set loss to No. 14 Iran that showcased how close the Filipinos were to crashing the Final 16.

     

    Bagunas later anchored the squad to a bronze medal finish in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand, cementing his role as the face of the men’s program.

     

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    :

    On the women’s side, Belen’s recognition crowns a dominant closing chapter in her collegiate career. The 23-year-old outside hitter powered National University to back-to-back UAAP women’s volleyball championships, punctuating her final season with another MVP honor — her third overall. 

     

    NU later retired her iconic No. 4 jersey, making Belen the first athlete in school history to receive such a distinction, a testament to her lasting impact on the Lady Bulldogs’ dynasty.

     

    Belen’s influence extended beyond the UAAP. Selected first overall by Capital1 in the 2025 PVL Rookie Draft, she also played a vital role for Alas Pilipinas in the AVC Women’s Volleyball Nations Cup, where the national team claimed silver in Hanoi — its best finish in the tournament and an improvement from the bronze medal haul the year before.

     

    Together, Bagunas and Belen represent two parallel stories of leadership and progress — one pushing Philippine men’s volleyball onto the global map, the other redefining sustained excellence in the women’s game. 

     

    Their honors at the SMC-PSA Awards Night serve not just as personal milestones, but as markers of how far Philippine volleyball has come in a single, remarkable year.

     

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  • “Heartbreaking but understandable”: Brooke Van Sickle opens up on Petro Gazz’s PVL absence

    “Heartbreaking but understandable”: Brooke Van Sickle opens up on Petro Gazz’s PVL absence

    Filipino-American outside hitter Brooke Van Sickle has firmly established herself as one of the Premier Volleyball League’s (PVL) most dominant forces in recent years. Her explosive scoring, elite all-around skillset, and consistency with the Petro Gazz Angels have elevated her to the status of arguably the best player in the country today.

     

    Van Sickle played a pivotal role in Petro Gazz’s recent championship run, helping the Angels capture both the 2024–25 All-Filipino Conference title and the 2025 Reinforced Conference crown. Over the past two seasons, her performances earned her a long list of accolades: two Best Outside Hitter awards, three Conference MVP trophies, and the league’s first-ever PVL Most Valuable Player award in 2025.

     

    Despite this run of success, Petro Gazz management made the shocking decision to take a leave of absence from the PVL—a development that left players free to join other clubs. The news stunned the volleyball community and deeply affected the athletes who had built the Angels into a perennial contender, including Van Sickle herself.

     

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    “It was very sad to hear the news, actually. Coming off a championship last conference to having a leave of absence, it was heartbreaking but understandable. We are definitely keeping our spirits up and we’re just really grateful that the core decided to stick together and by no means were forced,” Van Sickle said.

    “I know there were a lot of allegations being said but we kind of all, as players, like have a common goal that we make sure that the core sticks together and you know, continue to build something special, especially with the Nxled group like we think we can do that. It was all part of the plan, I guess. Things happen, it’s uncomfortable and you just gotta be optimistic and still hungry,” she added.

     

    With Petro Gazz stepping away from competition, the league suddenly found itself with several sought-after free agents—and Nxled Chameleons acted swiftly. Van Sickle headlined the list of big-name signings, but she wasn’t alone. Nxled also brought in two-time Finals MVP MJ Phillips, former PVL MVP Myla Pablo, and rising setter Jules Tolentino, last year’s 11th overall draft pick.

     

    The result? Nxled effectively absorbed the backbone of the once-dominant Petro Gazz core, instantly transforming the team from a lower-table squad into a legitimate contender.

     

    “So far the practices have been super awesome, they’re very awesome. It’s just really awesome to be able to have an Italian coach and he has so much experience from around the world and to be able to bring that to the gym is awesome.

     

    “I feel like this is probably the most prepared I’m gonna be for a conference, personally, just because the amount of touches and just like the quality of practice is really good, especially all the girls are absolutely pushing each other in the gym so it’s really highly competitive so with that being said — yeah, our goal is to win,” Van Sickle concluded.

     

    With Van Sickle leading the charge and surrounded by a lineup filled with MVPs, Finals stars, and championship-tested veterans, Nxled’s dramatic roster overhaul feels less like a rebuild and more like a declaration of intent. As the PVL enters the 2026 season, the Chameleons are no longer just aiming to improve—they are positioning themselves firmly in the championship conversation.

     

     

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  • Brooke Van Sickle Turns the Page: Embraces new beginning with Nxled 

    Brooke Van Sickle Turns the Page: Embraces new beginning with Nxled 

    For Brooke Van Sickle, the moment was equal parts gratitude and grief — a pause between what was lost and what now lies ahead.

     

    The three-time PVL Most Valuable Player recently stood at that emotional crossroads as Petro Gazz, the team that introduced her to Philippine volleyball and helped define her rise in the league, officially stepped away from competition. The news marked the end of a chapter that brought titles, growth, and a sense of belonging for the Fil-Hawaiian star.

     

    “It was very sad to hear the news, actually. Coming off a championship last conference to having a leave of absence, it was heartbreaking but understandable,” Van Sickle shared on Thursday.

     

    Her journey in the Philippines began in 2024 with a leap of faith. Recruited by the Angels, Van Sickle arrived as a talented import — and quickly became much more. Her relentless two-way play, leadership, and competitive fire transformed her into one of the league’s defining figures, a fan favorite who helped power Petro Gazz to two championships in a short but unforgettable span.

    Those memories made the goodbye heavier.

     

    “Again, super grateful for the Petro Gazz family, the Villavicencios, for having me come to the Philippines. It was really a great two years with them, and obviously it’s sad to see the team leaving, but I’m still super excited for this next journey with Nxled,” said the 27-year-old.

     

    The Angels’ decision to take a leave of absence sent shockwaves through the local volleyball community, especially given Petro Gazz’s status as the PVL’s second-winningest franchise since joining the league in 2018. Yet even amid uncertainty, Van Sickle’s focus never lingered on what ended — it shifted quickly to what could still be built.

     

    That outlook made the transition to Nxled feel less like starting over and more like carrying something forward.

     

    With much of Petro Gazz’s championship core moving alongside her — including MJ Phillips, Myla Pablo, Jules Tolentino, Ranya Musa, Jonah Sabete, Djanel Cheng, Bang Pineda, Nicole Tiamzon, Jellie Tempiatura, and AA Adolfo — continuity replaced disruption. The bond forged through wins and adversity remains intact, now redirected toward a new franchise and a new mission.

     

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    “Like, I am very stoked to be able to have all my former teammates coming along for the ride, too. So it’s just exciting. It’s new — new coach, new teammates, a lot of things. It’s, like, mentally stimulating in a sense. But I’m excited,” Van Sickle said.

     

    She was also quick to address speculation surrounding the group’s move, emphasizing that the decision to join Nxled was made freely — a collective choice rooted in belief and shared ambition.

    “We’re just really grateful that the core decided to stick together. And by no means were we forced,” she explained.

     

    “I know there were a lot of allegations being said, but we kind of all, as players, like, have a common goal that we make sure that the core sticks together and, you know, continue to build something special, especially with the Nxled group.”

     

    Now wearing green instead of red, Van Sickle finds renewed energy in a fresh environment — one highlighted by the presence of Italian head coach Ettore Guidetti. The chance to work under a globally experienced tactician has already raised the bar in training.

     

    “So far, the practices have been super awesome. They’re very awesome. It’s just really awesome to be able to have an Italian coach, and he has so much experience from around the world. To be able to bring that to the gym is awesome,” she said.

     

    “I feel like this is probably the most prepared I’m gonna be for a conference, personally, just because of the amount of touches and just, like, the quality of practice is really good. Especially, all the girls are absolutely pushing each other in the gym, so it’s really highly competitive.”

     

    For Van Sickle, the jersey may have changed, but the standard has not. As she begins this new chapter with Nxled, she carries the same commitment that defined her time with Petro Gazz — leadership, effort, and an all-in approach to the game and the people around her.

     

    “At the end of the day, no matter what jersey or color, I’m still gonna give it my hundred percent, no matter what, and still try to be a team leader and try to still make long-term connections and friendships,” she said.

     

    “So I’m just excited for these next couple of years.”

     

    What ended in heartbreak now opens into possibility — and for Brooke Van Sickle, that balance of gratitude and hunger may be exactly what fuels her next run.

     

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