With Brooke Van Sickle watching from the sidelines, MJ Phillips has embraced a bigger role for the Nxled Chameleons.
The veteran middle blocker has become one of the voices the Chameleons can lean on as they navigate the 2026 PVL Invitational Conference without their injured captain.
“I mean, I just know that I’m looked at as an ate with everyone on the team. So I just really want to set an example,” Phillips said.
Van Sickle remains sidelined with a minor shoulder tear, but Phillips stressed that the Chameleons’ captain continues to influence the team even without being on the court.
“I know that we’re missing Brooke, but she’s still a very big, huge impact on the team, even if she’s off the court,” she added.
Brooke Van Sickle’s Absence Is Being Felt
The absence of Van Sickle has tested Nxled for much of the season. The Chameleons split their four games in the PVL On Tour, beating Capital1 and Galeries Tower while falling to Creamline and Farm Fresh.
Their Invitational campaign also began with another setback, as Nxled dropped a four‑setter to a Creamline side led by Jaja Santiago‑Minowa.
But the Chameleons quickly showed that they were not about to let another loss define their tournament.
Phillips Leads a Bounce Back
A day after the defeat, Nxled delivered one of its biggest wins of the conference, sweeping defending champion PLDT High Speed Hitters, 25‑22, 25‑21, 25‑23, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Phillips led the charge with 13 points, but more importantly, she saw a different mindset from her teammates when things did not go their way.
“In the past, maybe we’d make errors, we’d kind of curl up. But right now, I just feel like we’re really solid right now,” Phillips said.
That newfound resilience could prove crucial as Nxled tries to make a deeper run in the Invitationals.
Aiming for the Crown
For Phillips, the goal is no longer simply to recover from losses. The Chameleons believe they have the pieces to compete for something bigger, even without their captain on the floor.
“We’re really hungry for, like, a win and a championship. Everyone’s stepping up—that’s what we’re seeing. And I see a lot of confidence,” she said.
“And even if there’s an error, we’d bounce back. We’re confident that we can do it. So, it’s a big change.”
