No Van Sickle, no problem as Chameleons stun High Speed Hitters
Games Thursday
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
1:30 p.m. — Farm Fresh vs Creamline
4 p.m. — HVF vs PLDT
6:30 p.m. — EST Cola vs Nxled
MANILA, Philippines — Nxled showed it is more than a Brooke Van Sickle team as it shocked defending champion, PLDT, 25-19, 25-22, 25-20, minus its top gun to jump back into PVL Invitational contention at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Tuesday.
The Chameleons did the hole-plugging by committee with MJ Phillips leading them with 13 points, including four service aces in the critical stretch in the third set when they averted the High Speed Hitters’ spirited attempt to extend their duel to another set.
Phillips stepped up just in time as the fledgling franchise were in desperate search for someone or anyone who could fill that massive hole left by Van Sickle, who was enlisted in the lineup for this conference but could miss more time with nagging shoulder issues.
Also coming through were team captain Myla Pablo, Lyann de Guzman and Jonah Sabete-Escamillan, who scattered 12, 10 and nine hits, respectively.
“We just want to showcase to everyone how much work we have put in the last couple of weeks and thankfully, it showed in our game,” said Phillips.
The Chameleons also played better than the day before when they succumbed to the Creamline Cool Smashers in four sets.
“We played pretty good volleyball,” said Nxled coach Ettore Guidetti. “We’re getting better in blocks and defense, served much, much better and we worked better compared to yesterday (Monday).”
For De Guzman, she was told by Guidetti to be prepared with Van Sickle in sickbay.
“Coached told us to just always be ready,” she said.
The Manny V. Pangilinan-owned franchise, for its part, suffered its first defeat after hurdling Est Cola of Thailand on Monday, August 31.
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