Hampered by an undisclosed injury early in the tournament, Vanie Gandler is making up for lost time as Cignal surges in the 2025 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference.
Gandler has been gradually regaining her form, playing a key role in the Super Spikers’ dominant straight-set victory over league leaders and formerly unbeaten ZUS Coffee, 25-12, 26-24, 25-23, on Thursday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“I just wanted to help the team, especially because earlier in the conference, I wasn’t able to play. So, now’s my time to help the team,” said the 24-year-old outside hitter out of Ateneo.
She finished with seven points, including three of Cignal’s last five in the third set. That helped the team build a cushion against the surging Thunderbelles before Erika Santos took over to seal the win.
“I trained for it. We trained for it. The pressure in practices, it’s always there. I guess this is what we prepared for, and thankfully it showed,” she said of her crucial performance in the tense third frame.
(C) PVL Images
Gandler first saw action in the Super Spikers’ opening-game loss to an import-less Choco Mucho before missing three matches due to injury. She made her return in a straight-set defeat to Capital1, contributing just two points off the bench to close out the first round.
The former Ateneo de Manila University star’s seven-point outing against ZUS Coffee was her best performance since returning from injury. And it arrives at a crucial point, as the Super Spikers mount a remarkable turnaround from a below-average start.
Cignal, after a 2-3 finish in Pool A, is now riding a two-game winning streak following wins over two of Pool B’s top teams, Akari and ZUS Coffee.
The Super Spikers will face defending champion Creamline on Tuesday, with a win securing a quarterfinals berth. Gandler’s return to form could not have come at a better time, providing the boost Cignal needs in their push for the playoffs.
