Alyssa gives Vanie her roses, says Cignal is near a breakthrough title
Vanie Gandler left everything on the floor and led Cignal’s balanced attack that dragged Creamline to a deciding fifth set in Game 2 on Thursday night.
Yet, despite the undeniable resilience of the Super Spikers, the heart of champions in the Cool Smashers prevailed as they completed a series sweep to regain the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference title, the first of three Creamline is targeting in its redemption tour.
Gandler’s final spike attempt was denied by Tots Carlos and the Cignal star sat on the floor and shed tears as Creamline clinched its 11th title with a thrilling 25-23, 22-25, 25-16, 16-25, 15-11 win in front of 17,358 fans at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
But amid Creamline’s emotional celebration, Alyssa Valdez went to Gandler and consoled her fellow Ateneo product.
It seemed like a passing of the torch from one former Blue Eagle to win a PVL MVP to another. But it was simply an ‘older sister’ being proud of a player for blossoming into one of the league’s rising stars.
“I’ve spent a lot of time with Vanie outside the court and since she also came from Ateneo, we’ve had a lot of talks,” Valdez said in Filipino. “I know how hard she’s worked to become who she is now, so I’m really, really proud of her.”
Gandler played her heart out and finished with 26 points, 15 receptions and 14 digs in Game 2. She was honored with the MVP, which made her idol, Valdez, proud.
“Ly went to me and said that I deserve everything that I have now. She congratulated me and told me there’s nothing to be ashamed of and I super appreciate that,” said Gandler. “(Valdez) and I have gotten pretty close in the past year and I’m really grateful for her.
“She’s always been an (older sister) to me and of course, she was once my idol and hearing those words from her means so much.”
In Gandler’s second finals duel against Creamline since its grand slam-clinching win in the 2024 Invitational Conference, the three-time MVP Valdez believes that the 25-year-old Alas Pilipinas player is close to winning her first PVL title with her superb performance in the finals.
“I told her she’s very close; they’ve shown they truly deserve to be there,” Valdez said. “I said she’s just a little step away from getting her first championship.”
