The Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference Finals unfolded just as Brooke Van Sickle had imagined: intense, loud, and full of pressure.
But none of that fazed the 27-year-old Fil-Hawaiian outside hitter, who stepped up in her Finals debut and delivered an unforgettable performance to help Petro Gazz secure a critical 25-17, 25-20, 18-25, 20-25, 15-10 Game 1 victory over the Creamline Cool Smashers at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Van Sickle, who has been a driving force for the Angels throughout the season, posted a game-high 24 points, showcasing her all-around game with 21 attacks, two blocks, and one ace, plus 14 excellent digs and six excellent receptions. Despite the team nearly blowing a 2-0 set lead, Van Sickle helped them regain composure in the fifth set to take the win.
Reflecting on her Finals debut, Van Sickle admitted it was everything she expected and more.
"Yeah, I mean, it's exactly what I expected it to be," she said. "I know Creamline has a big fanbase, so it was very loud. It was very hard to think at some points, which was nice because it drowned out all the thoughts. So, yeah, it was everything that I expected. You know, five-setters can go either way at that point. You just don't know who's going to win or lose."
With her eyes set on her first major championship, Van Sickle remains focused on the task at hand, refusing to let the excitement of the win distract her from the ultimate goal.
"I'm just grateful for this journey, and I'm really proud of the team for even making it to the finals," she shared. "But that being said, it’s not over. This win doesn't matter. It's still, you know, best two out of three."
Van Sickle’s mindset reflects the team's overall approach — staying grounded and focused despite their breakthrough win.
"Even though we won, there are a lot of things we need to work on," she continued. "We only have one day, so I guess we’ll visualize as much as possible. It's not over at all."
She also reminded her teammates not to get ahead of themselves, especially with the experienced Creamline squad still gunning for their fifth consecutive title.
"We can't get ahead of ourselves and think, ‘oh, championship,’ because as soon as you start doing that, it’s going to get taken away," Van Sickle cautioned. "We have to stay grounded and present and continue to focus."
With Game 2 coming up, Van Sickle expects a tough battle.
"But I'm expecting Thursday, Creamline is going to come out and play their best volleyball possible, and we have to be ready as a team," she said. "We can’t let what happened in the third set affect us. We can't be low energy or back off because this is the team you can't do that with. So, yeah, fighting."
