NEW-look Petro Gazz started the preseason with a 25-11, 25-19, 25-19 win over Philippine Army in the 2024 PNVF Champions League at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum on Sunday.
Fil-American ace Brooke Van Sickle impressed in her first outing for the Angels with a game-high 16 points (seven in Set 1) on 14 attacks, one block, and one ace.
READ: PNVF brings back men's and women's Champions League
In her first taste of Philippine volleyball action, Van Sickle admitted to feeling the nerves right before taking the court but felt right at home with a 'super supportive' squad behind her.
"There’s butterflies going on before the game but my teammates are super supportive and you know, I feel like we’re doing very well. We’re getting chemistry as a team together, slowly and slowly, and it was a good day for us," Van Sickle said.
"It’s going really good [with Petro Gazz so far]. I got here like two weeks ago like the first day I was not even here for 48 hours but I already felt like I was at home. The girls are so welcoming and I can’t be more grateful, I’m super happy," she added.
Nicole Tiamzon led the Angels' core of locals with nine markers alongside the returning Myla Pablo, who took on an unusual role as opposite spiker, with eight points.
It wasn't only Van Sickle and Petro Gazz' three new acquisitions who made their squad debuts in the PNVF Champions League as Japanese head coach Koji Tsuzurabara called the shots in the Philippines for the very first time.
"I said to the players before the game to have fun together with each other (as) today is my first game [as head coach]," said Tsuzurabara.
"Brooke (Van Sickle) is good. She also had her game (here for the) first time so she has to understand the atmosphere in Philippine volleyball, with opponents, spectators," he added.
Petro Gazz guns for its second win against Cignal (3:30 p.m.), while Army, which was led by Nene Bautista (10 points), takes on reigning champion College of St. Benilde (6 p.m.) on Monday.
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