Vanie Gandler has fought hard to reach where she is in her career.
And last Thursday night, that resilience finally paid off. She was crowned Most Valuable Player of the 2026 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference, capping a breakthrough performance that reflected her steady rise and relentless work ethic throughout Cignal’s campaign.
“It’s very meaningful to me. I fought really hard to be where I am today. I fought through so many failures, I fought through so much doubt,” said the 25-year-old outside hitter.
The moment also served as a form of redemption for Gandler, who has long faced criticism and doubt since her collegiate days with Ateneo in the UAAP, with questions following her even as she made the leap to the professional ranks.
But with her breakthrough MVP performance, she finally flipped the narrative, silencing the noise with a campaign that spoke louder than the criticism that once surrounded her.
“I’m proud of myself. I’m definitely a player, a person who keeps trying, keeps pushing forward. It doesn’t matter what people say. I have a great career, a great team. I’m blessed to have this career,” said the Alas Pilipinas standout.
“I have a great family and great support system, so that’s what matters to me,” she added.
Now, Gandler hopes her journey goes beyond personal vindication. Instead, she aims to inspire others that hard work, perseverance, and dedication can turn long-shot dreams into reality.
“I really hold that purpose na I want to show people na with hard work and dedication, you can reach your goals. Like you can get anywhere. (It) doesn’t matter what people say as long as you keep working and believe in yourself,” she said.
Gandler was a key figure in the Super Spikers’ Finals run, finishing as the fourth-best scorer, seventh in aces and reception, and ninth in spiking efficiency. Her numbers underscore her all-around impact as one of Cignal’s most reliable offensive and defensive weapons throughout the conference.
And while they fell short of their ultimate goal after losing to Creamline in the Finals, she remained proud of how the team fought and stayed united until the end.
“Yeah, it wasn’t our goal, but I’m still proud of the team because we fought really hard to be here today to get a silver medal. Of course, now we know what we need to improve on, our lapses, and this will definitely motivate us to push harder.”
