Myla Pablo and Brooke Van Sickle lead Petro Gazz Angels against Capital1 Solar Spikers in the PVL All-Filipino qualifying round. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — A first PVL All-Filipino Conference championship is Petro Gazz’s goal but Brooke Van Sickle knows they can’t get too ahead of themselves despite winning 10 straight games on their way to the quarterfinals.
Van Sickle sustained her fine form with 19 points, 14 receptions, and nine digs to lead Petro Gazz past qualifying round opponent Capital1, 25-19, 25-23, 25-21, and enter the 2024-25 All-Filipino Conference playoffs on Saturday at Philsports Arena.
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READ; PVL: Myla Pablo, Van Sickle power Petro Gazz into quarterfinals
“The championship is the goal. But we have to focus on what’s ahead of us. I don’t know who we’re going to play next. But we have to take that game seriously. Fight as much as we can. Take it game by game,” said Van Sickle, who dropped 15 kills, two blocks, and two aces.
“It’s easier said than done to win a championship. Everyone can say it’s their goal and their wish. But we have to put in the work,” she added.
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Petro Gazz Angels’ Brooke Van Sickle in the PVL All-Filipino Conference qualifying round. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
The reigning All-Filipino MVP may have been taking it one game at a time, but she’s proud of the whole Angels, who finished the first round with a 10-1 record before taking care of business against the Solar Spikers.
“I’m just really proud of the team. I feel like everyone’s doing a fantastic job. It doesn’t matter who it is. Everyone’s stepping up. I’m really happy. I’m at peace right now,” she said.
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Before their game, the Filipino-American spiker watched an eye-opening game when the No.10 Galeries Tower upset the third-seed Cignal to barge into the quarterfinals.
“That game was awesome to watch. Both teams came fighting. I thought Galeries had excellent defense. They were able to transition the ball very well that game. C In a way, it was a wake-up call. It was a reminder that it’s anyone’s game. It’s the tournament now. It’s top six, bottom six, whatever the tournament is. It’s a do-or-die situation,” Van Sickle said.
“We have to take every point seriously and every team seriously. Everyone’s going to be fighting. Everyone wants to win. It’s just who has the more disciplined fight and who’s on. It’s going to be a battle.”
Van Sickle and the Angels will wait for the No.7 seed, which will be up for grabs in the play-in, in the best-of-three quarterfinals.
“There are still more games ahead. We just have to keep pushing and improving. It’s a long journey still,” she said.