Petro Gazz Angels’ Brooke Van Sickle and MJ Phillips during a PVL All-Filipino Conference game. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Petro Gazz Most Valuable Players Brooke Van Sickle and MJ Phillips will always have each other’s backs — on and off the court.
READ: PVL: Van Sickle, Phillips proud to be Filipinos amid ‘import’ remarks
Behind Petro Gazz’s historic run to its first PVL All-Filipino Conference title wasn’t just the standout skills of Van Sickle and Phillips, who were named Conference MVP and Finals MVP, respectively.
It was their strong bond that helped push the Angels through the six-month grind.
Brooke Van Sickle and MJ Phillips celebrate the Petro Gazz Angels’ PVL All-Filipino Conference championship after beating Creamline Cool Smashers. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
“I’m really glad because the girls in Petro Gazz — I love them to death,” said Van Sickle, who won her second All-Filipino MVP. “And MJ’s like the cherry on top of the sundae. When she came later, I was like, ‘Oh, there’s another Fil-Am? That’s so sick.’ I didn’t know she was already part of the team before I signed with Petro.”
READ; PVL: ‘We’re all part of the puzzle,’ says Van Sickle on title win
“It was awesome to be able to have her here. She has opened my eyes to so much beyond volleyball here. So it’s been amazing to have her and just be able to call her my best friend.”
From the preliminary round onward, Van Sickle said Petro Gazz’s leap this conference was forged in their “dog fight” of a training environment — fueled by Phillips and the rest of the team.
Phillips, who has been playing in the country since 2019 in the defunct Philippine Superliga, helped her fellow Filipino-American adjust to getting used to Philippine volleyball and the culture.
READ: PVL: No heartbreaks this time for MJ Phillips, Petro Gazz
And though the Finals MVP middle blocker is known for her soft-spoken nature, having Van Sickle around has helped ease the load on and off the court.
“I’m super grateful. I’m not a woman of many words. She’s the yapper. But it’s always great to look at her on the court. And I just know she has my back, and we have the same understanding and mindset. And it’s just that it feels a little less lonely. I’m so thankful that she’s on our team,” said Phillips.
For Van Sickle, seeing Phillips on her side in the heat of battle is always a reassuring presence.
“She’s always there for me through thick and thin and always is, you know, very supportive. Even on the court, we have each other’s backs. And just to make eye contact and just be like, ‘you know what? Yeah, we can do this’. And it’s really reassuring. I couldn’t ask for anyone better. I’m grateful for you, dude,” she said.
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Both proud of their Filipino roots, Van Sickle and Phillips are now set to represent the Philippines together as Petro Gazz competes in the AVC Champions League starting Monday.
