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Tag: Vanie Gandler

  • PVL All-Filipino Conference: Savannah Davison, Mhicaela Belen head early projected Individual Award winners

    PVL All-Filipino Conference: Savannah Davison, Mhicaela Belen head early projected Individual Award winners

    As the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference heads into the semifinals, the race for individual honors is heating up. Among the frontrunners, Savannah Davison of the PLDT High Speed Hitters stands out not only for her scoring and spiking prowess but also for her team’s dominance. 

     

    Davison ranks third in total points with 185, and her spiking efficiency of 34.23% has powered the No. 1 team in the conference. Her combination of elite production and playoff relevance makes her the early favorite for Conference MVP.

     

    Right alongside her in the award conversation is Mhicaela Belen of Capital1 Solar Spikers, who led the league in total points with 218. While her team’s early elimination in the play-in round weakens her MVP chances, Belen’s statistical dominance cannot be ignored. 

     

    Her high-volume scoring and consistent output put her in contention for positional honors, particularly Best Outside Spiker, where production and impact matter most.

     

    Cherry Ann Rondina of Choco Mucho Flying Titans rounds out the early frontrunners in the outside spiker category. Rondina tallied 178 points, ranking fourth in total scoring, and contributed significantly in serving and reception efficiency. 

     

    Despite her team bowing out early, Rondina’s all-around stats ensure she remains a strong candidate for positional awards.

     

    Cignal Super Spikers, the conference’s second-best team, also injects star power into the mix with Vanessa “Vanie” Gandler and Erika Santos. Gandler ranks sixth in scoring with 166 points, seventh in spiking efficiency at 31.60%, and sixth in reception efficiency, anchoring Cignal’s two-way game. 

     

    Meanwhile, Santos has delivered 139 total points, ranked third in spiking efficiency at 35.53%, and contributed with 124 attacks, showing she can be counted on in both front- and back-row situations.

     

    Their combined performance has propelled Cignal to the top tier of the conference highlighted by a combined 46-point effort to push their team past Creamline in the early qualifying round, making both players serious contenders for Best Outside Spiker and even MVP consideration should their team reach the finals.

     

    In the middle blocker category, Mary Joy Baron of PLDT and Jeannette Panaga of Creamline remain the leading choices. Baron’s defensive presence and blocking average of 0.79 per set anchor PLDT’s front line, while Panaga balances blocking and serving, providing one of the most versatile middle blocker résumés in the league. 

     

    Meanwhile, Trisha Tubu of Farm Fresh Foxies continues to dominate as Best Opposite Spiker with 189 total points, a league-leading spiking efficiency of 40.99%, and 0.71 blocks per set.

     

    Setter honors appear to be heading toward Jia De Guzman of Creamline, whose 5.44 excellent sets per set top the league, though Kim Fajardo of PLDT could mount a late challenge if her team’s strong finish continues. 

     

    The libero race is still led by Tonnie Rose Ponce of Choco Mucho, with 4.71 digs per set, but Alyssa Eroa of ZUS Coffee is close behind with elite back-row efficiency at 43.37%, making this category one of the most open.

     

    As the semifinals unfold, voters will weigh not just raw statistics but team success and playoff relevance. At this stage, Savannah Davison, Mhicaela Belen, Cherry Rondina, Vanessa Gandler, and Erika Santos are shaping up as the leading projected award winners, blending individual brilliance with the impact of being key players on the conference’s top-performing squads.

     

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    Projected PVL Individual Awards Leaderboard – 2026 All-Filipino Conference

     

    Most Valuable Player (MVP) – best overall player of the conference

    • Savannah Davison (PLDT High Speed Hitters) – 185 points, 34.23% spiking efficiency, No.1 team
    • Vanessa Gandler (Cignal Super Spikers) – 166 points, 31.60% spiking efficiency, 2nd-best team
    • Mhicaela Belen (Capital1 Solar Spikers) – 218 points (league leader), team eliminated early

    Best Outside Spikers – the top wing scorers / all-around OHs

    • Mhicaela Belen (Capital1 Solar Spikers) – 218 points, high-volume attacker
    • Cherry Ann Rondina (Choco Mucho Flying Titans) – 178 points, strong serve & reception
    • Savannah Davison (PLDT High Speed Hitters) – 185 points, spiking efficiency 34.23%
    • Vanessa Gandler (Cignal Super Spikers) – 166 points, 31.60% spiking efficiency
    • Erika Santos (Cignal Super Spikers) – 139 points, 35.53% spiking efficiency

    Best Middle Blockers – best net defenders / quick attackers

    • Mary Joy Baron (PLDT High Speed Hitters) – 26 blocks, 0.79 avg per set
    • Jeannette Panaga (Creamline Cool Smashers) – 26 blocks, versatile front-row stats

    Best Opposite Spiker – top opposite / right-side hitter

    • Trisha Tubu (Farm Fresh Foxies) – 189 points, 40.99% spiking efficiency, 0.71 blocks per set

    Best Setter – top playmaker

    • Julia Melissa De Guzman (Creamline Cool Smashers) – 5.44 excellent sets per set
    • Kim Fajardo (PLDT High Speed Hitters) – 4.88 excellent sets per set

    Best Libero – best defensive specialist

    • Tonnie Rose Ponce (Choco Mucho Flying Titans) – 179 digs, 4.71 digs per set
    • Alyssa Eroa (ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles) – 97 receptions, 43.37% reception efficiency

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  • Vanie Gandler relishes Cignal’s breakthrough win against rival Creamline

    Vanie Gandler relishes Cignal’s breakthrough win against rival Creamline

    For Cignal, beating Creamline was never just about one match. It was about finally breaking through in the kind of game that had repeatedly slipped away from the Super Spikers in the past.


    On Thursday night, that burden was still there, but this time it did not define the ending. Instead, Vanie Gandler turned those painful memories into motivation and helped power Cignal to a breakthrough 25-21, 24-26, 18-25, 25-22, 17-15 victory to clinch a semifinal berth in the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference.

     

    It was more than just a win. For a team that had endured too many close losses in crucial moments, it felt like a release.

     

    Cignal had already experienced this exact kind of heartbreak before, especially against Creamline. Just five days earlier, the Super Spikers had dropped another painful five-set match to the Cool Smashers to close the preliminaries, making Thursday’s rematch feel even heavier.

     

    That recent loss, along with others before it, stayed with Vanie Gandler heading into the match.

    “We know how painful it is to lose our crucial games. We’ve been through it so many times,” she said during the post-game press conference.

     

    “So, I think that’s what we all always hold in our hearts, and we use that as our motivation to really fight with one another.”

     

    That mindset showed when the match began to tighten. Even as Creamline made its expected late push, Cignal stayed composed and refused to unravel in another high-pressure finish.

    At the center of that steadiness was Gandler, who once again showed that her value goes far beyond scoring. She finished with 22 points, 28 excellent receptions, and 13 digs, delivering one of her most complete performances of the conference.

     

    Whether it was stabilizing the floor, keeping rallies alive, or scoring in key stretches, Gandler remained at the heart of everything Cignal was trying to do.

     

    She also had plenty of help. Erika Santos provided the scoring punch with 26 points, while Gel Cayuna expertly ran the offense with 35 excellent sets and added 11 points of her own.

     

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    Together, they gave Cignal the balance and poise it has often searched for in pressure games against top-level opponents.

     

    The win became even more impressive considering the setting. The Smart Araneta Coliseum crowd heavily favored Creamline, but Gandler said the atmosphere barely registered once the match settled into its tense rhythm.

     

    “In matches like this, sometimes you’re so focused on the court. Sometimes, it’s scarier to be on the bench,” she said. “You don’t even notice anymore what’s going on because you’re so focused on what you need to do.”

     

    That focus mattered most in the fifth set, where Cignal had to survive multiple moments that could have broken them. The Super Spikers needed four match points before finally putting Creamline away, with the Cool Smashers repeatedly refusing to let the match end.

     

    That was what made the breakthrough feel so meaningful. In the kind of finish that had hurt them before, Cignal finally became the team that stayed upright long enough to finish the job.

     

    For a team that has often looked capable of contending but struggled to close the biggest matches, Thursday’s result may mean more than just a place in the semifinals. It may also be proof that the Super Spikers are finally learning how to win the matches that used to break them.

     

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  • Vanie Gandler keeps Cignal focused as Super Spikers chase elusive PVL title

    Vanie Gandler keeps Cignal focused as Super Spikers chase elusive PVL title

    Momentum has been building for Cignal in the 2026 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference, but the Super Spikers are making sure it doesn’t turn into complacency.

     

    Fresh off a convincing straight-sets win over ZUS Coffee, Cignal strengthened its standing in the tournament with a 5-2 record, good for solo third place behind the early leaders PLDT and Creamline. The victory further highlighted the team’s growing confidence as the race for playoff positioning tightens.

     

    Still, the Super Spikers understand that a strong record in the preliminary round guarantees nothing in a conference where the format ensures every team remains in the hunt.

     

    “We know that no one is safe, even though we started the conference strongly. We know that we’re not safe because everyone has wins, everyone has losses. And now is not the time for us to relax,” said Cignal ace Vanie Gandler after their 25-18, 25-23, 25-22 win over ZUS Coffee.

     

    Under the tournament’s format, the top four teams after the preliminary phase advance to the qualifying round. From there, two teams will secure outright spots in the semifinals, while the losing sides are given another chance by facing the Play-In winners.

     

    The Play-In stage gives teams ranked fifth to tenth a lifeline, splitting them into two groups of three where the group winners will challenge the qualifying round losers for the final semifinal slots. 

     

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    With so many twists built into the path toward the championship, every win remains crucial — a reality not lost on the Super Spikers as they continue their steady climb.

     

    For Cignal, the stakes are even higher given the franchise’s long pursuit of a championship breakthrough. Despite being one of the league’s consistent contenders, the team has yet to capture the top prize, settling for two runner-up finishes and five third-place results in previous conferences.

     

    That unfinished mission continues to drive the squad, especially Gandler, who has emerged as the team’s offensive leader this conference with a 16.7-point average, and with 117 total points which makes her the 4th best scorer this conference. 

     

    “My goal for myself is to be able to help Cignal win the championship. That’s it,” she declared.

    With five wins already in their pocket and the team finding its rhythm, the Super Spikers are determined to keep building momentum as the competition intensifies.

     

    Cignal will have time to regroup before returning to the court on March 14 against Capital1, before wrapping up its preliminary round campaign in a highly anticipated showdown against Creamline in March. 

     

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  • Vanie Gandler, Erika Santos shine as Cignal remains unbeaten in PVL All-Filipino Conference

    Vanie Gandler, Erika Santos shine as Cignal remains unbeaten in PVL All-Filipino Conference

    Cignal Super Spikers are off to a flying start in the PVL All-Filipino Conference, boasting a perfect 3-0 record, and much of the credit goes to the team’s dynamic duo: Vanessa Gandler and Erika Mae Santos. 


    Both players have made a strong statement, ranking among the league’s top five scorers while also breaking into the top 10 best spikers list, demonstrating not just firepower but also remarkable efficiency and versatility.

     

    Gandler leads the Super Spikers with 55 points so far this season. The 5-foot-9 outside spiker has tallied 51 spikes on 148 attempts, converting 34.46% of her attacks with zero faults, complemented by four additional points from other shots. 

     

    Santos is right behind with 46 points, converting 38 spikes out of 108 attempts for a 35.19% success rate, along with six faults and two successful shots. Together, their 101 points account for the backbone of Cignal’s offense, underscoring their central role in the team’s unbeaten start.

     

    Cignal opened the season with a dominant 3-0 sweep over Galeries Tower HighRisers, taking sets 25-17, 25-14, and 25-11. Gandler contributed 14 points, combining precise spikes and strong floor coverage, while Santos added 13 points, using her quick attacks and blocks to keep the HighRisers off balance.

     

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    In their second game against powerhouse Choco Mucho, the Super Spikers showed resilience in a 3-1 win (25-20, 18-19, 25-16, 25-25). Gandler tallied 16 points, delivering sharp attacks from the wings and solid passing that kept Cignal’s offense fluid. Santos turned in one of her standout performances, scoring 18 points, including two blocks and two aces, demonstrating her all-around threat at the net.

     

    Their latest win came against Farm Fresh, another 3-1 victory with sets of 17-25, 24-28, 25-20, and 28-30. Gandler’s triple-double performance stole the spotlight with 25 points, 14 excellent digs, and 15 excellent receptions, showing why she’s a nightmare for opposing defenses. Santos contributed 15 points with two blocks, consistently applying pressure at the net and keeping the team’s rhythm intact.

     

    Beyond their scoring, both players have been critical in other areas—Gandler’s court vision and defensive coverage, combined with Santos’ timing in blocks and efficient spike conversion, make them a well-rounded duo few teams can contain. Santos ranks seventh among the best spikers this conference, while Gandler is eighth, reinforcing their status as elite attackers.

     

    With Gandler and Santos leading the way, Cignal has established itself as a formidable team this season. 

     

    Their combination of scoring, attacking efficiency, and defensive contributions has been the driving force behind Cignal’s perfect 3-0 record, making the Super Spikers a squad to watch as the PVL All-Filipino Conference heats up, the Super Spikers will look to extend their streak against the Nxled Chameleons this Saturday scheduled for 6:30PM. 

     

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  • Vanie Gandler shakes off illness to fuel Cignal’s perfect 3-0 start 

    Vanie Gandler shakes off illness to fuel Cignal’s perfect 3-0 start 

    Even while battling gastroenteritis just a day before tip-off, Vanie Gandler refused to let illness sideline her. The 25-year-old outside spiker emerged as the driving force behind Cignal’s hard-earned 3-0 start in the 2026 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference, powering past a resilient Farm Fresh team at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

     

    “Right after practice yesterday, I went to the clinic to get meds,” Gandler shared. “My number one priority was to be able to eat so that I have enough energy today. I just took the meds, I rested, and thankfully I was able to play.”

     

    The Alas Pilipinas standout didn’t just play—she dominated. Gandler recorded 25 points on 24 attacks and one ace, while also contributing 14 excellent digs and 15 excellent receptions, completing a massive triple-double that underscored her all-around influence.

     

    “I just think of any way I can contribute to the team. So, if I’m in the front row, with scoring, and [when I’m in the] back row, defense. I don’t really think of the stats. It’s just where else I can help with the team to get this win,” Gandler said, demonstrating the selflessness that has become central to Cignal’s early success.

     

    The 5-foot-9 spiker has steadily been Cignal’s cornerstone, contributing 14 points in their victory over Galeries Tower and 16 against Choco Mucho, all while growing into a leader both on and off the court.

     

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    “I’m really proud of my team because we work really hard and we really try our best to apply everything that’s taught to us. We still have many lapses, many things to work on, but I’m very happy with how we’re willing to learn and improve each training,” Gandler added.

     

    Her performance wasn’t just a personal triumph—it was a testament to the team’s growth, discipline, and unity. “I think it’s just the experiences that I’ve had and, of course, the environment that I have to always improve. My improvement is because of the help of my teammates, my coaches. So, yeah, I’m grateful for everything that they teach me and that my teammates give me confidence every time.”

     

    For Cignal, Gandler’s perseverance and versatility signal that the team is not just winning—they are building the foundation of a confident, resilient squad capable of challenging for the title.

     

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