Vanie Gandler has announced that she will turn professional after finishing her final year at Ateneo de Manila University.
The 5-foot-9 wing spiker made the announcement on Saturday after the Blue Eagles’ final game in the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament.
However, Gandler also shared that she has not yet decided where she will play professionally.
“Yeah, I’ll be moving on to the professional league,” quipped Gandler, “but I haven’t decided which team yet.”
In her last game playing for the Blue and White, the De La Salle-Zobel product gave her all, scoring a team-high 20 points to go with 16 excellent receptions. However, the Blue Eagles fell short against National University in a nail-biter, losing 25-21, 30-28, 14-25, 13-25, 13-15.
With the defeat, Ateneo finished the season in sixth place with a 4-10 win-loss record, having only defeated lower-ranked teams University of the Philippines and University of the East.
Despite a forgettable final stint with the Blue Eagles, Gandler remains confident that her school will return to its glory soon.
“I think everyone knows that it’s been a tough season for us, and that’s our reality. So now we just have to accept it, acknowledge our mistakes and shortcomings, and move forward. Always move forward,” said Gandler.
“It’s not the end for everyone. It’s not the end for Ateneo. It’s not the end for me, even if it’s my last year in Ateneo. I still have a long journey ahead, so it’s a learning season for us.”
Gandler finished her last season with 154 points on 134 attacks, 12 service aces, and eight blocks.
