BY ABBY TORALBA
PETRO Gazz signed up Filipino American Brooke Van Sickle, who formerly played in the US NCAA Division 1, over the weekend to boost its roster for the new PVL season.
The Angels revealed what they said was the “missing piece” on their social media account before the season-opening tilt set to start on Feb. 20.
“An angel sent from heaven has arrived to refuel our journey. We’re thrilled to have you here, Brooke Van Sickle,” Petro Gazz said.
The 5-foot-9 spiker started her collegiate career at Oregon University before transferring to the University of Hawaii where she won an MVP plum and was named the Best Outside Spiker and Best Scorer in the 2021 NCAA Big West’s All-Conference Team.
Van Sickle also shone in beach volleyball, being named the 2022 AVCA Beach Volleyball Best Attacker, then played briefly for Cyprus-based pro club AEL Limassol before taking her volleyball career to the Philippines.
Van Sickle is the fifth addition to Petro Gazz so far, joining Michelle Morente, Joy Dacoron, Ethan Arce and returning Angel Myla Pablo.
She will beef up the Angels after the departure of former team ace Grethcel Soltones.
Soltones spent three seasons with former two-time champion Petro Gazz before moving to Akari.
The Angels wound up sixth in the second All-Filipino meet last year.
Van Sickle, along with the four acquisitions, will team up with mainstays Aiza Pontillas, Jonah Sabete, Djanel Cheng, and Remy Palma.
