Vanie Gandler fought through flu en route to her best outing for Cignal in the Premier Volleyball League Second All-Filipino Conference on Saturday.
Gandler, despite missing the team’s recent practice after dealing with flu since last Thursday, took charge in the HD Spikers’ 25-15, 25-23, 18-25, 25-19 victory over the skidding Petro Gazz at the Philsports Arena.
The 22-year-old spiker dropped a career-best 23 points on 19 attacks, three blocks, and an ace to help her side clinch its fourth consecutive win in the tournament that put them in fifth place with a 5-2 win-loss record.
“I’m very happy that we got the win. It was a very crucial game for us to go up the ranks and yeah, I’m just really grateful,” said the rookie out of Ateneo.
“I felt it earlier in the game in my lungs but it’s fine. I feel good but of course now I’m gonna rest ‘cause we have another big game on Wednesday,” she added.
Gandler credited her teammates and thanked them for their support, saying that they played a pivotal role in her career game.
“I really would not have done it without my team of course. I can really feel their support. It really gives me the confidence to just play and of course the coaches. Three blocks for me is just really a big thing so I’m really happy with that,” she said.
Cignal head coach Shaq delos Santos lauded Gandler’s character and even called her a ‘fighter’ after she powered through her sickness just to be able to help out the HD Spikers in their big game against the Angels.
“Actually lahat naman binibigay namin ‘yung dapat na role nila sa position nila and sobrang happy ako of course kasi si Vanie may sakit siya noong Thursday never siya nakapag training,” shared delos Santos.
“Pero, sabi ko nga, dahil alam namin kung gaano siya kasipag, gaano na siya nag-invest, I think ang inisip ko talaga doon is kailangan niya ng rest, full rest, and ‘yun pagbalik niya kahapon okay naman and ‘yung laro niya ngayon grabe. Talagang fighter, bago pa lang mag start ‘tong game na ‘to sinabi ko na fighter talaga ‘yung bata.”
