For every championship celebration, there is always regret and disappointment on the other side.
After Creamline completed its series sweep of Cignal on Thursday with a 25-23, 22-25, 25-16, 16-25, 15-11 five-set escape in Game 2 to clinch the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference title, Vanie Gandler was left in visible sorrow after failing to force a deciding match.
Then, the essence of sport came into full display.
Now 11-time champion Alyssa Valdez approached Gandler, a fellow Atenean, to lift her spirits, especially after the Cignal standout delivered a brilliant performance in Game 2 with 26 points, 15 receptions, and 14 digs.
“Ate Ly, she went to me and said that I deserve everything that I have now. She congratulated me and told me there’s nothing to be ashamed of, and I super appreciate that,” shared Gandler, who claimed her first-ever PVL MVP award.
“Ate Ly and I have gotten pretty close in the past year, and yeah, I’m really grateful for her. She’s always been an Ate to me, and of course, she was once my idol, and hearing those words from her means so much.”
For Valdez, it was about acknowledging the work Gandler has put in to reach where she is now.
Gandler’s evolution has been a long and challenging journey — from being one of the most doubted players during her college days at Ateneo de Manila University to becoming one of the most reliable stars in the PVL.
The 25-year-old outside spiker finished fourth in scoring this conference with 209 total points, built on 182 attacks, 17 kill blocks, and 10 service aces.
She also showcased her all-around game, ranking ninth in spiking efficiency with a 31.93 percent success rate, and placing seventh in both service aces (0.23 per set) and reception (46.59 percent), en route to her first PVL MVP award.
“Ang dami kasi naming mga times na nagkikita si Vanie outside the court eh, tapos galing din siya sa Ateneo. So may mga times na may talks and conversations na meron din kami together,” shared Valdez.
“Alam ko kung gaano pinaghirapan ni Vanie at gaano trinabaho ni Vanie kung sino siya ngayon. So I’m very, very proud of her. Sabi ko nga sa kanya, konting-konti na lang kasi siyempre for me, it’s really a different playing ground pagdating sa Finals,” she added.
“But they’ve shown that they are really, really deserving to be here, so sabi ko konting-konti na lang yan, you’ll be able to get your first ever championship. Pero siyempre if kami yun, di rin kami papayag.”
