Petro Gazz Angels' Brooke Van Sickle. PVL Media BureauCANDON CITY – Reigning PVL All-Filipino Conference MVP Brooke Van Sickle has been dreaming of connecting with her roots in Ilocos Sur—and now, it has been fulfilled.
Van Sickle relished the opportunity to visit Ilocos Sur, saying that she has been longing for this moment because his grandfather, the origin of her Filipino blood, talked about their home a lot.
For the first time, Van Sickle played in front of her "kababayans" at the Candon City Arena on Saturday.
The Petro Gazz star, as expected of her, shone with 20 points on 19 attacks and an ace, towing the Angels to a 25-21, 25-17, 25-19 rout of Farm Fresh to secure a 2-1 win-loss card in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
READ: PVL: Ilocos Sur pride Van Sickle lifts Petro Gazz past Farm Fresh in Candon
"I’ve been dreaming about this moment, to be able to come here and just see how it was because my grandpa would always tell stories about how much he misses this place. Unfortunately, he couldn’t come here because of health concerns but I can’t wait to bring the pictures to him. I’m very excited," Van Sickle said.
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"Finally, to be able to play here, it was just a fulfilling moment," she added.
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For the league's recent top plum recipient, she found an added motivation to play better after her visit there.
"It adds more motivation for me," she said. "Now, I know this place, I know how beautiful it is, the people too; to be able to finally make that connection is really huge for me. I'm very, very grateful."
Van Sickle also revealed that she was able to visit San Emilio, the hometown of her lolo and mother, before their bout against the Foxies.
"It’s like full circle for me because my grandpa grew up here, went to high school here. I got to go to San Emilio yesterday and it was really cool to see where my grandfather and my mom used to stay and everything."
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