CALL them imports or locals or whatnot, but Petro Gazz’ Brooke Van Sickle and PLDT’s Savi Davison both beamed with pride to have waved the flag against Asia’s best teams in the 2025 AVC Women’s Champions League.
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For Van Sickle, who has averaged 11 points in pool play for the Angels, to have the blue, red, and white emblazoned on her chest in her first international tournament has been nothing short of a euphoric experience.
“This is where we want to be. It was awesome that we were able to get into this tournament and I just think it's an awesome opportunity just to watch good volleyball, even if it's not even our pool,” the two-time PVL MVP said.
“This is crazy volleyball right now. [They are] all champions from Asia, so I’m going to take [this experience] with an open mind since I want to soak in good volleyball. I’m trying to learn and see all the good teams.”
BVS also tipped her hat to the rest of the Philippine contingent, as Petro Gazz, PLDT, and Creamline all managed to reach the knockout stage of the biggest club competition in the continent.
“To be able to watch all the other teams compete was awesome. To watch Creamline and PLDT get their first wins is huge. I’m really proud of them. I thought they all did a really fantastic job and I wish them good luck for the next games,” the Fil-American winger said.
“I’m really proud of all the teams. [Creamline and PLDT] are doing fantastic. They’re pushing to themselves to their limits and they’re just playing good volleyball. I just wish for the best of them and stay healthy.”
Philippines can compete with Asia's best
Falling a few points short of claiming a huge scalp in pool play in six-time Thai champion Nakhon Ratchasima, Davison pointed out how the High Speed Hitters' five-set push against a perennial Asian powerhouse only goes to show that Filipinos have what it takes to lock horns — and even fight for wins — against the region’s best.
“This just goes to show that the Philippines can compete,” the Fil-Canadian spiker said upon norming 21 points in pool play.
“[Nakhon Ratchasima] were, I think, [bronze medalists] in their league, so it’s a big deal for us to push them to five [sets] and it’s a big deal for us to come together and be able to do that especially here in the Philippines with so much support.”
Davison and Van Sickle are out to deliver their hard-hitting exploits in their biggest matches yet for club and country in the quarterfinals, as PLDT faces Kazakhstan’s Zhetysu (Apr. 24) and Petro Gazz takes on China’s Beijing BAIC Motor (Apr. 25).
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