ANTIPOLO – Brooke Van Sickle got her birthday wish — and more — on Saturday night.
Van Sickle wished for the Angels to regroup and bounce back from their tough Game 1 loss, and they delivered, rediscovering their winning form with a commanding victory over ZUS Coffee in Game 2 of the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference quarterfinals.
Petro Gazz put on a collective effort to sweep the Thunderbelles, 25-19, 25-13, 28-26, keeping their semifinal hopes alive and forcing a decisive Game 3 at the Ynares Sports Center.
“My birthday wish was for the team to come out and play as themselves, just to have good energy.
“I told them after the last game that if we play our game, fight hard, and still end up losing, I’d still be proud of this team,” said the reigning All-Filipino Conference MVP, who celebrated her 27th birthday in style.
But the night was even more special for Van Sickle, as she shared the moment with her biggest supporters — her parents, Gary and Lisa, who flew in from Hawaii to watch her play and celebrate her birthday.
With their tournament lives on the line, Van Sickle admitted that having her parents in attendance gave her an extra boost of confidence and motivation.
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“It’s huge. They only come once a year, so I’m not really used to having them around. Normally, if we lose a game, I come home, and when I try to call my parents, they’re already asleep,” Van Sickle said.
“So having them here is really special. After a tough game, when I’m at my lowest, it’s nice to have someone to lean on. Just having their support means a lot, especially during moments like this.”
Van Sickle led the charge in Petro Gazz’s Game 2 victory, tallying a game-high 17 points — 15 from attacks — while also contributing eight excellent digs to keep the Angels’ campaign alive.
“Yeah, I’m just really proud of the team. We came out flat in Game 1, but for this one, we had a goal: to have fun and bring energy. I thought we did a great job of that,” she said.
Despite forcing a winner-take-all match, Van Sickle knows the Thunderbelles are fully capable of bouncing back, as they proved in their series-opening win.
Still, with her parents staying in town for Game 3, she feels determined to make the most of their presence and lead Petro Gazz to a semifinal berth.
“It’s gonna be a battle next game. Like Coach Koji (Tsuzubara) said, this game is done, and now we have to focus on the next one. Everyone played really well, and I’m happy we were able to turn things around. But ZUS will keep fighting, so we have to be ready,” Van Sickle said.
“Being able to bounce back and still have a chance to fight is amazing. I’m really happy my parents took the time to come watch me, and I’m glad they’ll be here for another game,” she continued.
“They’re my number one supporters. They coached me growing up, so having them here after that tough Game 1 was a huge comfort. Sometimes, after a rough game, all you need is a hug — and I’m grateful I have them here for that.”
