Petro Gazz Angels’ Brooke Van Sickle.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines —Newly-minted PVL MVP Brooke Van Sickle can’t wait to represent the Philippines on the international stage.
The Philippine National Volleyball Federation bared that Van Sickle and her Petro Gazz teammate MJ Phillips have started processing their transfer to the country from USA Volleyball.
Filipino-Canadian hitter Savi Davison of PLDT is also seeking to play for the Philippine women’s volleyball team. The PNVF will know the results of their transfer in June.
Van Sickle, who was hailed as the best player in the All-Filipino Conference after leading Petro Gazz to the semifinals, hopes to get the green light to help the national team.
“It’s definitely an honor to be able to represent the Philippines for sure. We’re still working out on things, I’m just doing what I’m told,” said Van Sickle. “But it will be an honor for sure, I’d be super grateful to be able to represent this country and I’m welcomed with open arms. I’ll work hard.”
READ: Petro Gazz star Brooke Van Sickle wins PVL MVP award
The US NCAA Division 1 product’s goal was to be consistent and help her teammates in her first PVL stint as Petro Gazz finished with a bronze medal, becoming the first local to score back-to-back 30 points in their series against Chery Tiggo.
Van Sickle also emerged as the MVP of the PNVF Champions League, which Petro Gazz ruled before the PVL season.
“I knew that the volleyball was going to be good. That was a given. Just seeing all the fans and how passionate are everyone about volleyball here, it’s cool to see this growth of the sport,” she said. “It feels extremely professional, it feels awesome. Behind the scenes and make everything work out. It’s fantastic to play here.”
As she awaits her eligibility to play for the national team, Van Sickle seeks to help Petro Gazz rise from third place in the Reinforced Conference in July.
“Being able to make it to the podium this conference, I believe when everyone’s one and we’re being consistent, our team’s capable of doing great things. When you lose, you learn a lot of lessons. Losing’s not fun but it’s just exciting to be able to have that room for growth and be able to still be optimistic,” Van Sickle said.
“Seeing the standard of volleyball and everything like that, seeing the type of volleyball in the finals and now, how can we get there and how to get there every day. It was exciting to be able to watch this game tonight and learned a lot of things.”