PVL: Vanie Gandler, Erika Santos bolster Capital 1

FILE– Vanie Gandler during her stint with the Cignal Super Spikers. She now joins the Capital1 Solar Spikers in the PVL. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Capital1, one of the youngest clubs in the PVL, has emerged as a legitimate title contender after landing the pair of Cignal MVPs Vanie Gandler and Erika Santos ahead of the new season.

The Solar Spikers on Thursday morning announced their massive signing of Gandler and Santos, who found their new home after Cignal’s leave of absence from the PVL.

Capital1 also signed free agent setter Jaja Maraguinot, who last played for Nxled.

Gandler led Cignal to its first All-Filipino finals last April and gave Creamline hard-fought battles in the conference, especially in finals Game 2, before they fell short in five sets and settled for a runner-up finish.

READ: PVL: Vanie Gandler rises above doubts to win All-Filipino MVP

The 25-year-old outside spiker played her best PVL campaign yet, emerging as the 2026 All-Filipino Conference MVP — her first-ever individual award.

The former Ateneo stalwart credited her rise to Cignal, which signed her in 2023 and turned her into the face of the Super Spikers, a league MVP, and an Alas Pilipinas member. 

Gandler will team up with Alas teammate Bella Belen–becoming the first MVP and Rookie of the Conference duo in the league–and reunite with ex-national team coach Jorge Souza De Brito.

READ: PVL: Bella Belen disappointed but determined after Capital1 exit

Santos will add firepower to Capital1 after coming out of her shell with Cignal. In her one-season stint with the Super Spikers, the fast-rising opposite spiker became the PVL on Tour MVP, one of the league’s top opposite spikers, and an All-Star starter.

It will be Santos’ third team after playing for PLDT in her first PVL stint before moving to Cignal last year. She will be reunited with fellow La Salle standout and opposite spiker Leila Cruz.

Capital1 reached the Reinforced quarterfinals last year and finished eighth in the All-Filipino after losing to Galeries Tower in the Play-In amid Belen’s best conference yet, winning the Rookie of the Conference and Best Outside Spiker.