Facing Creamline always comes with an added layer of difficulty — not just because of its championship pedigree, but also the roaring crowd that turns every rally into a charged, high-pressure moment.
That, however, was not the case for Vanie Gandler.
Instead of feeling overwhelmed by the noise and intensity that come with facing the Cool Smashers, Gandler remained unfazed and in control. She embraced the hostile atmosphere as she delivered a composed and confident performance when her team needed it most.
And that composure proved crucial, as the 25-year-old outside hitter rose to the occasion in Cignal’s hard-fought revenge win over Creamline in the qualifying round, 25-21, 24-26, 18-25, 25-22, 17-15, sending them through to the semifinals of the 2026 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference.
(C) PVL Images
“In matches like this that are super crucial, sometimes you don’t even hear the… You’re so focused on the court. Sometimes, it’s scarier to be on the bench,” said Gandler after the huge win over the same squad that had beaten them just five days earlier.
The Alas Pilipinas standout produced a monster triple-double: 22 points, 28 excellent receptions, and 13 excellent digs, powering the Super Spikers into the semifinals for the first time since last year’s PVL On Tour.
“So, that’s for me ha. You don’t even notice anymore what’s going on because you’re so focused on what you need to do,” she added.
For Gandler, staying composed and playing with poise proved key against a Creamline squad seasoned by years of championship experience and high-pressure matches.
That focus — combined with a renewed determination after a string of heartbreaking losses to the same team in recent years — fueled both Gandler and Cignal’s resolve to finally turn the tide against Creamline.
“It was a tough game talaga, and especially, it’s always hard going against Creamline in high-pressure games because they’re so experienced. They know what to do. They stay composed. So, today we just did our best to stay composed as well and never stop fighting,” she said.
“Yeah, and not just today. Every practice leading up to this day, or even before this, we know how painful it is to lose our crucial games. We’ve been through it so many times. So, I think that’s what we all always hold in our hearts and, you know, we use that as our motivation to really fight with one another.”
#WATCH: IT’S ALWAYS HARD GOING AGAINST CREAMLINE IN HIGH-PRESSURE GAMES 🏐
Vanie Gandler says she and Cignal needed to match Creamline’s poise to advance to the #PVL2026 semis#ReadMore 👉 https://t.co/d47BDnoQi7
📹 @jonashdcd /Tiebreaker Times pic.twitter.com/Br6oXxaCyq
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) March 26, 2026
