Petro Gazz names Van Sickle’s dad as new head coach

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The Petro Gazz Angels appointed Brooke Van Sickle’s dad, Gary, as the team’s newest chief tactician for the upcoming PVL Reinforced Conference, announced on Sept. 30, 2025.

Van Sickle replaced Japanese coach Koji Tsuzurabara after the Petro Gazz franchise spent the last two years under his mentorship and sideline prowess.

Despite limited coaching exposure in the Philippines, particularly in the PVL, Van Sickle is widely renowned in the U.S. after spending time with teams in North Texas.

A University of Hawaii alumnus and a former volleyball player, Van Sickle is expected to bring immediate impact to the Angels alongside his wife, Lisa, who will act as the team’s assistant coach.

Lisa was a former professional volleyball player in Argentina and with the Hawaii Waves, then later entered the world of coaching.

In over 25 years of coaching experience, Lisa helped several grassroots programs in Hawaii win Open Division titles under her Aloha Ball Club.

Talent will no longer be an issue for the Van Sickles, as their daughter—the MVP when the team won the PVL All-Filipino Conference—will enter the import-laced conference healthy, together with MJ Phillips, Jonah Sabete, Djanel Cheng, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, and Myla Pablo.

American outside hitter Lindsey Vander Weide will serve as the team’s reinforcement in the conference, returning after rendering her services to the Angels in the 2022 Reinforced Conference season.

“The coaching tandem of the Van Sickles takes charge of the Angels,” Petro Gazz posted on their official Facebook account.

“They nurtured greatness at home, now they bring that same passion to the sidelines to guide our team to greater heights!”