BROOKE Van Sickles wants no less than the title.
There’s a quiet yearning in Brooke van Sickle’s voice as she reflects on the Petro Gazz Angels’ journey — one marked by impressive performances and near victories, but still missing that elusive PVL title.
“We’re on a winning streak right now, but since I’ve been here, we haven’t won a championship,” Van Sickle said after delivering 27 points in Petro Gazz’s 25-20, 24-26, 28-26, 25-22 victory over ZUS Coffee late Tuesday night.
It was their sixth consecutive win in the All-Filipino Cup at PhilSports Arena. “So in reality, we’re like the underdogs, as coach [Koji Tsuzurabara] would say.”
That triumph propelled the Angels to the top of the standings with a 7-1 record, edging out the defending champions, Creamline, who handed them their only loss. With the classification round winding down, Petro Gazz now stands in prime position, fueled by a strong streak of victories.
Van Sickle’s impact on the team has been undeniable. Since joining last year in this very conference, she immediately helped the Angels secure a bronze finish — a testament to her skill and leadership.
And now, her rise is taking on an even broader scope, as she’s in talks with Ricky Palou, PVL chief and vice president of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF), to don the Philippine colors later this year.
“I’ve been in conversations with the federation, and everything is in the works for me to switch federations,” Van Sickle shared, her voice filled with anticipation. “It’s very exciting. If I get the chance, I’ll be super grateful and give my 100 percent.”
Van Sickle’s journey with Petro Gazz hasn’t been all smooth sailing. While she made an immediate impact in her first conference, helping the Angels claim a podium finish, they stumbled in the Reinforced Conference with a sixth-place finish. But that only seems to have fueled her determination.
“We got stopped by Creamline; they’re a great team,” Van Sickle acknowledged. “But we have to keep pushing ourselves every day. It doesn’t matter who’s on the other side. They’re going to push us, but we’re all here to win.”
