By Jean Malanum
MANILA – Vanie Gandler’s triple-double performance in Cignal’s finals-clinching game against its finals foe, Creamline, on Tuesday earned her the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference Press Corps Player of the Week presented by Pilipinas Live.
Gandler has grown into a vital cog for Cignal on both ends, serving as the go-to attacker when the odds are stacked against the Super Spikers.
She delivered 24 points, 10 digs, and 10 excellent receptions in their 25-13, 13-25, 25-16, 25-16 win over Creamline in the round-robin semifinals at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The Ateneo de Manila University product credits her growth to the trust and patience given to her by the Super Spikers.
“We can’t explain how deep this is for us, kasi (because) we know how hard we worked for this. I just have so much gratitude for the team, because the player I am today is because of them. The way the team is performing is because we just want the best for each other. It’s really not for ourselves, it’s for each other,” Gandler said in a news release Saturday.
“Our focus isn’t that we go to the championship. Our focus is that we train like champions every day. So that’s what we do. We ask God for a championship. He’s gonna give us challenges, but we need to play like we’re champions. It means the world because I see the qualities of a champion in each one of them. And it’s made me a better person and player,” she added.
Gandler was the unanimous choice for the award, as decided by print and online sportswriters covering the beat, edging out Creamline’s Bernadeth Pons, Farm Fresh’s Trisha Tubu and PLDT’s Savi Davison.
Game 1 of the best-of-three finals is on April 21 at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. (PNA)
