Brooke Van Sickle wasn’t just the final piece of the puzzle — she was the fire that lit up Petro Gazz’s long-awaited All-Filipino breakthrough.
The 5-foot-9 outside hitter took the league by storm, capturing her second Most Valuable Player award during the 2024-25 All-Filipino Conference.
Her consistent performance and leadership proved vital in the Angels’ successful campaign.
After years of agony, the Angels finally dethroned the Creamline Cool Smashers in an All-Filipino setting, 25-21, 25-16, 23-25, 25-19, in front of 10,226 fans at the Philsports Arena to claim their first-ever crown jewel title.
But for the Filipino-American standout, the spotlight wasn’t about her.
“I’m just really proud of the team. We persevered through a lot. We had a lot of ups and downs. I’m just so proud. You know, everyone just has that fighting spirit and everyone’s just great people, on and off the court, just selfless people,” said Van Sickle, a product of the University of Oregon and the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
“I’m just really grateful to be able to be on this team and be surrounded by such wonderful women and be able to call them my friends and family and be able to learn from them and grow.”
Van Sickle led Petro Gazz in all three games of the Finals. In the title-clinching Game 3, she tallied 21 points, 18 excellent receptions, and nine digs — yet another all-around performance that anchored the Angels’ historic finish.
In Game 1, where Petro Gazz opened the series with a five-set win, 25-17, 25-20, 18-25, 20-25, 15-10, Van Sickle poured in 24 points and 14 digs. Despite Creamline’s retaliation in Game 2, she still shone with 18 points, 14 excellent receptions, and 10 digs.
Even knowing her impact, Van Sickle downplayed the notion that she was the long-awaited key to Petro Gazz’s success.
Petro Gazz had previously won two championships in the Reinforced Conference but had repeatedly fallen short in the All-Filipino Conference — until now.
“Again, I’m not doing anything. My team accepted me. They brought me in with loving arms. They made me feel so welcomed and comforted and loved,” said the Hawaii native.
“So, it’s not– I’m not the missing piece, it’s everyone. We’re all part of the puzzle. And, you know, everything’s just clicking at the right moments. We’re learning from each other. We’re just building those relationships and you know, it’s just great team chemistry.”
#WATCH: The Angels speak out after clinching Petro Gazz’s PVL All-Filipino Conference title 🏆
📹@justinvalencia_ /Tiebreaker Times pic.twitter.com/ilotrbU0PL
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) April 12, 2025
