MANILA, Philippines – After a stellar all-around performance in her first season, Brooke Van Sickle of the Petro Gazz Angels was voted the Premier Volleyball League’s (PVL) first-season Most Valuable Player (MVP), marking a historic occasion for the league. The renowned honor was given to the 27-year-old Filipino-American outside hitter on May 28 at the Novotel Manila Araneta City in Quezon City at the inaugural Pilipinas Live PVL Press Corps Awards Night.

After graduating from the University of Hawaii, Van Sickle, a former NCAA Division I standout, had an instant and long-lasting effect on the PVL. Van Sickle’s performances were crucial in helping the Petro Gazz Angels win the 2024–25 All-Filipino Conference championship, which put an end to the Creamline Cool Smashers’ four-year dominance and demonstrated her worth as a leader and scorer.

A weighted scoring system comprising three elements—50 percent statistical performance, 30 percent media votes, and 20 percent team votes—was used to decide the PVL’s Season MVP winner. With 227.6 points overall, Van Sickle led the field. She outperformed other league leaders with 116.3 points from statistics, 66.3 points from media representatives, and 45 points from coaches and team captains.

Both Bernadeth Pons and Michele Gumabao of Creamline, who were key players in their team’s long playoff run, were second and third in the final MVP count, respectively. But what really made Van Sickle stand out was her overall supremacy and steady brilliance.

With 349 total points—including 296 attack points, 30 kill blocks, and a league-high 23 serve aces—Van Sickle finished third overall in terms of scoring. With an average of 0.38 aces per set—the most of any player—her serving ability was unparalleled. In addition, she was sixth in digs per set (2.89), second in spiking efficiency (36.86 percent), and third in receiving efficiency (35.37 percent).

One of Van Sickle’s campaign’s most distinctive features was her adaptability. She was a reliable contributor in every rotation, whether it was on defense or offensively. She was able to guide Petro Gazz through challenging times during the season thanks to her poise under pressure, athleticism, and keen court sense.

Van Sickle was more than simply an influential statistic; he was the Angels’ unifying factor. The team’s poor start in the All-Filipino Conference was improved under her leadership. Petro Gazz recovered with confidence and momentum under her tutelage, reaching their peak just in time to win the tournament. Van Sickle played a key part in the squad winning its first title in an all-local conference.

Fans throughout have found resonance in Van Sickle’s journey off the court. Her mother is from San Emilio, Ilocos Sur, and she strongly celebrates her Filipino heritage despite having been born and reared in Hawaii. Her time in the PVL was particularly significant because of her ethnicity. She played a match in Candon City in front of family members and local fans during her heartfelt trip to her family’s hometown in Ilocos Sur during the season. In a post-game interview, Van Sickle remarked, “It’s like full circle for me because my grandpa grew up here and went to high school here.” “I got to go to San Emilio yesterday, and seeing the place where my mom and grandfather used to stay was really cool.”

Even though she was given the league’s top individual award, Van Sickle maintained her composure and emphasized how her accomplishment was a team effort. “I simply have a lot of gratitude for my teammates. The sport is six-man. She acknowledged the contributions of the entire Petro Gazz lineup, saying, “I wouldn’t be able to do it without them.”

Additional individual honors further emphasized Van Sickle’s season. She further solidified her position as one of the league’s most complete players by winning the Reinforced and All-Filipino Conference awards for Best Outside Spiker. Additionally, her participation has increased interest in the PVL, especially among Filipino diaspora players and fans.

Brooke Van Sickle’s debut as the first Season MVP sets a new bar for excellence as the PVL continues to raise its prominence both at home and abroad. Her blend of leadership, skill, humility, and cultural pride exemplifies the league’s future course.