Three-time league MVP Brooke Van Sickle stood at the crossroads of heartbreak and hope as she said goodbye to Petro Gazz—the team that brought her to the Philippines, gave her a home away from home, and shaped some of the most meaningful moments of her career.
“It was very sad to hear the news, actually. Coming off a championship last conference to having a leave of absence, it was heartbreaking but understandable,” Van Sickle told reporters on Thursday.
Van Sickle first arrived in the Philippines in 2024 after being recruited by the Angels.
That bold leap quickly proved to be the start of something special for the Fil-Hawaiian outside hitter. She immediately made her presence felt—captivating fans with her two-way brilliance and relentless competitiveness—and ultimately rose to become one of the most recognizable and celebrated names in the local volleyball scene, helping Petro Gazz win two championships over the past year.
“Again, super grateful for the Petro Gazz family, the Villavicencios, for having me come to the Philippines. It was really a great two years with them, and obviously it’s sad to see the team leaving, but I’m still super excited for this next journey with Nxled,” said the 27-year-old outside hitter.
But as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end.
In a shocking move that shook the local volleyball community, Petro Gazz—the second-winningest franchise in the PVL—announced it will be taking a leave of absence from the league it joined back in 2018.
Even as this chapter closed with sadness, Van Sickle’s focus is firmly on what comes next. She is turning the page with renewed fire as she begins a bold new chapter with Nxled—one made more meaningful by the familiar faces joining her along the way.
With much of her former Petro Gazz core—including MJ Phillips, Myla Pablo, Jules Tolentino, Ranya Musa, Jonah Sabete, Djanel Cheng, Bang Pineda, Nicole Tiamzon, Jellie Tempiatura, and AA Adolfo—moving together, the transition feels less like a departure and more like a continuation. The group aims to carry the chemistry, trust, and championship mindset they built with the Angels into a new jersey and a new mission.
“Like, I am very stoked to be able to have all my former teammates coming along for the ride, too. So it’s just exciting. It’s new—new coach, new teammates, a lot of things. It’s, like, mentally stimulating in a sense. But I’m excited,” said Van Sickle.
Van Sickle also clarified the group’s collective decision to move to the Chameleons, emphasizing that the choice was never forced. Rather, it was a conscious commitment to stay together—driven by a shared belief in one another, a common goal to keep the core intact, and a desire to continue building something special with Nxled.
“We’re just really grateful that the core decided to stick together. And by no means were we forced,” said the Battle Ground, Washington-born spiker.
“I know there were a lot of allegations being said, but we kind of all, as players, like, have a common goal that we make sure that the core sticks together and, you know, continue to build something special, especially with the Nxled group,” she added.
Now with the Chameleons, Van Sickle finds herself energized by a fresh environment and a new challenge, eager to blend her veteran leadership with the team’s promising young core.
The transition also brings the opportunity to work under Italian head coach Ettore Guidetti, whose global experience and demanding system have already left a strong impression on her.
“So far, the practices have been super awesome. They’re very awesome. It’s just really awesome to be able to have an Italian coach, and he has so much experience from around the world. To be able to bring that to the gym is awesome,” said Van Sickle.
“I feel like this is probably the most prepared I’m gonna be for a conference, personally, just because of the amount of touches and just, like, the quality of practice is really good. Especially, all the girls are absolutely pushing each other in the gym, so it’s really highly competitive.”
From red to green, Van Sickle vowed that nothing about her commitment would change, promising to give her all for her new team no matter the colors she wears.
As she embraces life with the Chameleons, she is determined to lead with the same fire, professionalism, and heart that defined her time with Petro Gazz—ready to pour 100 percent into Nxled as she helps shape its future and build lasting connections along the way.
“At the end of the day, no matter what jersey or color, I’m still gonna give it my hundred percent, no matter what, and still try to be a team leader and try to still make long-term connections and friendships,” she added.
“So I’m just excited for these next couple of years.”
#WATCH: TOGETHER 🏐
Brooke Van Sickle, Myla Pablo, and MJ Phillips share why they chose to be together at Nxled rather than go their separate ways#ReadMore 👉 https://t.co/rdVAZW1vGJ
📹 @jonashdcd /Tiebreaker Times#PVL2026 pic.twitter.com/ZTlSyBGx4j
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) January 15, 2026
