Amid the Petro Gazz Angels’ hard-earned rise to the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino crown, a storm of unwarranted doubt tried to cloud their triumph. But instead of succumbing, Brooke Van Sickle and MJ Phillips responded the only way they knew how – with brilliance on the court and grace off it.
Their historic Game 3 win over the Creamline Cool Smashers was more than just a championship clincher – it was a masterclass in composure and excellence. Yet, while Petro Gazz celebrated its first-ever All-Filipino title, murmurs about the identities of Van Sickle and Phillips grew louder, driven by fans reluctant to accept the changing tides of the sport.
Despite both players holding Filipino citizenship and proudly tracing their roots to Zambales and Ilocos Sur, detractors questioned their place in the tournament. But the numbers – and their impact – told a different story.
Van Sickle, a dynamic outside hitter from Hilo, Hawaii, dropped 21 points on 17 attacks, added two aces and two kill blocks, and showed off her all-around skill with 18 excellent receptions and 9 excellent digs – a performance that earned her the tournament MVP award.
Her court vision, relentless energy and poise under pressure made her a nightmare for opponents and a beacon of hope for her team.
Phillips, the powerful middle blocker from Carson, California, was a defensive wall and a clutch scorer, registering 15 points – including four kill blocks – and anchoring the Angels’ frontline with muscle and focus when it mattered most.
While a section of fans focused on their background, Van Sickle and Phillips focused on the goal.
“I just try to ignore the comments,” said Phillips, who has been playing in the local front since 2017. “Everything is honestly for my mom and my lola who passed away. Every time I look at the flag of the Philippines – it’s for my lola.”
Van Sickle, who joined the Angels last year, echoed that sentiment. “I don’t expect people to be open arms with us. I understand how they feel. But I’m here, I’m representing the Philippines. I just wanna be able to play volleyball – the sport I love – and continue to immerse myself in this culture, our culture.”
In a grueling tournament, the Koji Tsuzurabara-mentored Petro Gazz toiled, endured and proved it was their time – to rise, to win and to finally be recognized.
But the Angels’ journey wasn’t easy. Facing elimination in the best-of-three quarterfinals, they swept the last two games to eliminate the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles. From there, they, along with the likes of Jonah Sabete, Myla Pablo, Joy Dacoron, Aiza Pontillas, Remy Palma, Ranya Musa, Marian Buitre, Nicole Tiamzon, Chie Saet, Djanel Cheng, Baby Love Barbon and Jellie Tempiatura, never looked back, storming through four straight wins, including a semifinal sweep and a tough Game One of the Finals.
Though they couldn’t clinch the crown outright in Game Two – with the 10-time champion Cool Smashers flexing their title pedigree – the series hit a boiling point. And when it did, the Angels, true to form, shifted into a higher gear and soared to new heights.
The Angels’ road to glory was paved with resilience and belief – traits embodied by Van Sickle and Phillips, and the rest of the squad, every step of the way.
And if some fans still refuse to accept them, that says more about their inability to embrace reality than it does about the athletes they criticize. Because the truth is undeniable: Van Sickle and Phillips are Filipinas, champions, and elite athletes who rose above the noise and delivered when it counted most.
If that didn’t sit well with the critics, there’s always the next conference – a chance for redemption and maybe, just maybe, a shot at grounding the Angels.
That is, of course, unless the new champions choose to flutter and fold their wings.
