Despite leading Petro Gazz to the top of the standings with a 7-1 record, Brooke Van Sickle still embraces the underdog mentality as the Angels continue to chase their third PVL title.
Back on top of the standings with a 7-1 record and 20 points, Brooke Van Sickle still believes Petro Gazz is an underdog for the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
The Angels secured a hard-fought four-set victory over the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles, 25-20, 24-26, 28-26, 25-22, on Tuesday, February 4, at the PhilSports Arena.
Van Sickle delivered another stellar performance, finishing with 27 points on 25 attacks and two service aces, to go along with 15 excellent digs and five excellent receptions.
Despite their record, the Fil-Hawaiian spiker refuses to see Petro Gazz as a dominant force just yet.
“Since I’ve been here, we haven’t won, so in reality, we’re like the underdogs as coach would say,” Van Sickle said during the post-game press conference. “If a team thinks we’re supposed to win and they come out fighting, then it pushes us to be better and make sure we’re consistent.”
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Van Sickle could be on her way to another MVP award in the conference.
The superstar spiker has been all over the taraflex for the Angels, ranking fourth among the Best Scorers with 141 points, and third among Best Spikers with a 37.79% success rate.
She is also fifth among the Best Blockers with 0.56 rejections per set and first among the Best Servers with 11 aces and 0.44 average per set.
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Embracing the grind of intense matches, Van Sickle thrives in high-pressure situations.
“It’s the name of the game and it’s fun. It’s fun to have five-setters when it’s tight and everything. That’s why we play,” she added.
Beyond the competition, the former PVL MVP credits the Angels’ grueling training sessions for sharpening their edge.
“Our practices are getting really intense. Not that they weren’t before, but now it’s like a dogfight at practice,” Van Sickle shared. “Our coaches have high expectations, and we’re holding each other to higher standards.”
Van Sickle and Petro Gazz will aim for their seventh consecutive win when they face the Capital1 Solar Spikers on Tuesday, Feb. 11, still at the PhilSports Arena.