“We have to play like champions”: Vanie Gandler sets the tone as Cignal eye maiden PVL title 

For the Cignal HD Spikers, the road back to the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference Finals has been anything but abrupt. It’s a return shaped by patience—two years of recalibration, system tweaks, and steady internal growth rather than headline-grabbing overhauls. The result is a squad that looks more complete, more mature, and far more dangerous than in its previous title bids.

At the heart of that evolution is Vanie Gandler, whose rise from a complementary option to the team’s focal point has mirrored Cignal’s own climb. Once regarded as a promising piece with upside, Gandler has now fully embraced the role of franchise cornerstone—delivering when it matters most and elevating those around her.

Her latest performance served as the clearest statement yet.

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In Cignal’s finals-clinching victory over the Creamline Cool Smashers at the Mall of Asia Arena, Gandler put together an all-around masterclass. She poured in 24 points while anchoring the backcourt with 10 digs and 10 excellent receptions, showcasing not just scoring prowess but complete two-way impact. Against one of the PVL’s most decorated dynasties, it was the kind of performance that signaled a shift in balance—and perhaps, a changing of the guard.

But for Gandler, the job is far from finished.

“Our focus isn’t just making it to the finals, we pray for a championship. But that comes with challenges, and we have to play like champions,” Gandler said in a media interaction.

RED-HOT RUN 📡

Cignal head coach Shaq delos Santos, Vanie Gandler, Gel Cayuna and Tin Tiamzon run through another win over Creamline to clinch the first PVL Finals berth.#PVL2026 @spinph pic.twitter.com/ubIsV6V5YS

— John Mark Garcia (@johnmarkdg_) April 14, 2026

That mindset reflects a deeper hunger within the Cignal camp. Since joining the PVL five years ago, the franchise has flirted with glory but has yet to capture its first title. They came agonizingly close twice—first in the 2022 Reinforced Conference and again in the 2024 Invitational Conference—only to fall short at the final hurdle.

Those near-misses now serve as both motivation and fuel.

With another finals appearance secured, the stakes feel different this time. The roster is more battle-tested, the chemistry more refined, and the leadership—both vocal and by example—more pronounced. For Gandler, the opportunity carries personal and collective significance.

“It means the world to me because I see the qualities of a champion in each one of my teammates, they have made me a better player and person,” she added.

Cignal’s return to the championship stage sets up yet another high-stakes showdown with Creamline, a team synonymous with winning in the PVL era. Game 1 is slated for Tuesday, April 21, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, where experience and legacy will collide with hunger and momentum.

The question now is whether Gandler’s emergence—and Cignal’s long, methodical buildup—will finally translate into a breakthrough title, or if Creamline’s championship pedigree will once again prove too steep a climb.

Either way, the stage is set for a defining chapter.

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