Sirens of smash: Van Sickle, Davison clash in marquee duel
ALL eyes will be on Brooke Van Sickle as she returns from a shoulder injury to lead Nxled against PLDT in the PVL Season 10 All-Filipino Conference Siklab series on Tuesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Photograph courtesy of pvl
Games today:
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
1 p.m. — Farm Fresh vs Galeries Tower
3:30 p.m. — Criss Cross vs AFP
6 p.m. — Nxled vs PLDT
Fresh off a runner-up finish in the previous tournament and with its main scorer back, a confident Nxled marches into action against dangerous PLDT in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Season 10 All-Filipino Conference Siklab series today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The nightcap of the triple-bill playdate is set at 6 p.m.
Former Season Most Valuable Player Brooke Van Sickle is back after a long layoff due to a minor right shoulder injury.
She missed the Chameleons’ On Tour Showdown campaign as well as the season-opening Invitational Conference, where the squad reached a breakthrough finals appearance.
“Even though I was missing games and practice because of injury and recovering, I was able to still grow in other ways,” the two-time Conference MVP said.
“With that being said, like as a leader outside the court and able to watch my teammates and try to give in different ways was really like a growing opportunity for me,” Van Sickle added.
The Chameleons are parading a strong veteran core led by Myla Pablo, Jonah Sabete, MJ Phillips, Lyan De Guzman, EJ Laure-Cariño, Jackie Acuna and prized setter Gel Cayuna.
Nxled took the Invitational Conference silver after falling short in the championship match against Thailand’s Est Cola last month.
Just like the Chameleons, the High Speed Hitters are hungry for glory after finishing bronze in a failed Invitational Conference title defense.
PLDT’s strength is in its familiarity and chemistry after minimal changes during the offseason.
High-scoring winger Savi Davison, Kim Kianna Dy, Majoy Baron, Mika Reyes, Alas Pilipinas member Del Palomata, setter Kim Fajardo and decorated libero Kath Arado are back for the Rald Ricafort-mentored squad.
“It’s back to zero for all of the teams. We learned a lot from the last conference. So, it’s still the same, work harder and try to carry the momentum we built from the last tournament,” Ricafort said.
In the curtain-raiser, Farm Fresh and Galeries Tower meet at 1 p.m.
Trisha Tubu, Royse Tubino, Ara Galang, Ces Molina, Riri Meneses and Roselyn Doria-Aquino banner the Foxies against a rebuilding Highrisers side led by Jean Asis, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, Gayle Pascual, Erika Deloria, Roselle Baliton and top overall pick in the last Draft setter Lams Lamina.
Defending champion Creamline and Choco Mucho opened the 10th season with contrasting victories last Saturday in front of a record 19,106 crowd inside the SM Seaside Cebu Arena in Cebu City.
Meanwhile, reigning titlist Criss Cross sets its repeat din in motion against AFP in the Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference showdown.
The match is set at 3:30 p.m., with the winner joining Alpha Insurance on top of the standings.