For Gary and Lisa Van Sickle, accepting Petro Gazz’s offer to lead the team was an easy decision. It meant guiding the Angels while standing alongside their daughter, reigning MVP Brooke Van Sickle, in the Premier Volleyball League.
Gary has been appointed as the team’s new head coach, succeeding interim mentor Brian Esquibel after the sudden departure of Japanese tactician Koji Tsuzurabara. Lisa, meanwhile, joins the coaching staff as an assistant.
“Well, you know, I mean, we’re from Hawaii. We’ve got family back there. My dad’s there, but my whole family’s helping out with my dad, and we’re all taking turns to watch him and help him,” said Lisa, who hails from San Emilio, Ilocos Sur.
“So I feel a little more at ease coming. So after that was kind of settled, then yes, it was an easy decision to be with Brooke, to be able to coach her again,” she added.
Gary shared that management had previously floated the idea of having the couple join the Angels. With their familiarity with the team — closely following Petro Gazz since Brooke’s arrival last year — the timing finally felt right.
“They kind of mentioned to us the last time we kind of talked a little bit about volleyball, and they kind of wanted our background in it. And I guess about three or four weeks ago, they started reaching out more, and we started talking and seeing if we were interested and said yeah. And it kind of just escalated from there,” said the Van Sickle patriarch.
“We’ve been watching the team for a long time, honestly, ever since she’s been here. So we’re very familiar with the style of play that all the girls, other teammates, have and all that. So, yeah, we’re excited,” echoed Lisa.
(C) PVL Images
For Brooke, the move also brings her a sense of comfort. Instead of catching up only during quick visits, she now gets to be with her family daily.
The back-to-back All-Filipino Conference MVP admitted she is simply grateful to have her parents around — this time not just as her biggest supporters, but as part of her volleyball journey inside the league.
“Yeah, it’s amazing to be able to have them here, be able to be close to family. It’s really hard to be overseas and making sacrifices and being away from them. So I’m just really happy and grateful that they’re able to be here and be able to watch me grow as a human and as a player,” said Brooke.
Beyond comfort, Brooke also finds a sense of nostalgia in the setup. After all, her parents were her very first coaches when she was just starting out in the sport.
Having them back on the sidelines, this time in the pros, feels like a full-circle moment in her career.
“Well, that’s the nice thing about, like, growing up and having them as my coaches, right? Is that we already have, like, an understanding and a common ground where it’s like once we step in the gym, like, they’re not my parents. So they’re very, you know, they’re very educated with volleyball. Their IQ is really great,” Brooke shared.
“And so they are able to make that adjustment, that separation. So outside of volleyball, loving family, everything, but when we step on the court, it’s all business and we want to win, so at the end of the day, it’s all professional, all business,” she added.
With that foundation, Brooke is eager to see how Petro Gazz can grow under a fresh system guided by her parents’ leadership — believing their presence will not only push her but also help unlock the full potential of the Angels.
“And I’m really excited to see where Petro takes a step forward because my coaches prior to me going to college, they were my coaches my entire life. So I did learn everything from them. So I’m really excited to be able to implement that nurturing care into our team. So I’m ecstatic,” said Brooke.
“I’ve known for like a little bit now, but I’m really happy it finally played out and now they’re here.”
