How Kalei Mau led Brooke Van Sickle to Petro Gazz

IN her first game as the newest Petro Gazz Angel, Fil-American ace Brooke Van Sickle quickly stamped her class with a game-high 16-point salvo in a win over Army on Sunday in the 2024 PNVF Champions League.

With such an overpowering game, many are wondering where Van Sickle came from and how she ended up becoming an Angel. It’s a bit complicated but it’s all about connection. She is friends with a former Premier Volleyball League guest import and PVL star who gave her the right contacts.

That’s how she found herself tossing and smashing volleyballs here.

Van Sickle said she got wind of the PVL and she callled former Angels import Lindsey Vander Weide and then connected with her good friend Kalei Mau, to inquire about the possibility of playing with Petro Gazz.

PHOTO: PNVF

“(It was through) Kalei Mau. I met her probably three years ago and I have friends that played here in the PVL and they only just said fantastic things about how (playing volleyball in the Philippines) is just a different experience — the best experience they’ve never had in volleyball. That’s where the dream began,” said Van Sickle.

“Maybe three months ago, I was actually teammates with Lindsey Vander Weide so I ended up hitting her up and I said, ‘Hey, can I have contact information for Petro (Gazz)?’ She said ‘Yeah, okay!” and that’s how it started,” she revealed.

MORE FROM SPIN

Ahead of the season-opening All-Filipino Conference, Van Sickle is now the second Fil-foreign player to join the league in the last four months after PLDT’s Savannah Davison — a soon-to-be matchup Van Sickle eagerly awaits.

“I know there’s another dual citizen (in the PVL) in Savannah Davison. That’ll be cool to be able to get to see another dual (citizen) and be able to play against each other and everything. I already know the top teams are Creamline and Choco Mucho so that will be really exciting and even like Chery (Tiggo). Very excited,” Van Sickle said.

Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph