PVL: Vanie Gandler eager to help Capital1 write a winning story

Capital1 Solar Spikers’ newest signing Vanie Gandler ahead of the new PVL Season. Beside her is Jaja Maraguinot. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–Reigning Premier Volleyball League MVP Vanie Gandler chose Capital1 Solar Spikers believing she is the right fit for the young squad.

Gandler on Wednesday was introduced as the newest player for the Solar Spikers, along with her fellow Cignal star Erika Santos and free agent setter Jaja Maraguinot.

READ: PVL: Vanie Gandler, Erika Santos bolster Capital 1

Fresh off her first PVL MVP award after leading the now-defunct Cignal to a runner-up finish in the All-Filipino Conference, Gandler said she was impressed with Capital1’s steady growth over the past two years.

That led her to see there is a bright future for her and the Solar Spikers.

“When I was thinking of a team to join, I always felt that  I fit best in Capital1 for some reason. Playing on the other side of the court against them, I saw the growth of the team in the two years that Capital1 has been in the PVL. I saw the potential that the team has because I can see it in the team owners handled the team, with how supportive they are with the way they communicate with their players,” said Gandler in a press conference on Thursday at GameVille.

“I wanted to join a team where I’m not just a missing piece, I wanted to be there to build a team with them, to help them write a story,” she added.

The former Ateneo star admitted that Cignal’s sudden leave of absence, which came just a week after its Finals loss to Creamline Cool Smashers, was difficult to process.

“It wasn’t easy, especially with the season that we came out of. We finally reached the Finals for the first time in the All-Filipino Conference, so it was really heartbreaking,” said Gandler. “But  in life you always have to move forward. So I took this as a new challenge. Coming into the pros was a challenge, choosing a team was a challenge, and it ended up working. So I really just balanced where I could see I could grow and I see that in Capital1 with everyone’s willingness to build a team.”

Capital1 Solar Spikers’ owners and its newest recruits Vanie Gandler, Erika Santos and Jaja Maraguinot. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Expectations are high for the former Alas Pilipinas stalwart, but her focus is on integrating herself into the new system and helping the team reach greater heights.

“There may be high expectations but like always, my focus is just on today. What I have to do today, the process of what I need to do next, so I’m definitely gonna take what I learned over the past years and try to share it with the team, but not put too much pressure on myself that I have this expectation,” Gandler said.

“I know that I still have so much to learn. And I know that I can learn so much from this new team, new people, new perspectives, so I’m very excited to still keep improving.”

Vanie Gandler on joining Capital1. #PVL2026 | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/kQ52aBAWkZ

— INQUIRER Sports (@inquirersports) May 14, 2026

With Gandler and Santos joining top rookie Bella Belen, Capital1 hopes to continue building toward championship contention.

“Our goal is to focus on the process and I have no doubt that this team will really focus on the process and get there one step at a time. In my recent years in volleyball, I really fell in love with the process and everything I learned getting to that championship,” said Gandler. “The timeline to that championship, I’m not sure, but I know one day we’ll get there, but for now we’re just gonna enjoy what we’re doing and enjoy building this team together.”