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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Volleyball devider Capital1 acquires MVPs Vanie Gandler, Erika Santos

Capital1 acquires MVPs Vanie Gandler, Erika Santos

Published May 14, 2026 01:41 pm

At A Glance

  • Team owner Milka Romero formally announced the blockbuster signings on Thursday, May 14, giving Gandler and Santos a new home following Cignal's leave of absence from the league.
From left: Jaja Maraguinot, Vanie Gandler, Capital1 team owner Milka Romero, and Erika Santos
From left: Jaja Maraguinot, Vanie Gandler, Capital1 team owner Milka Romero, and Erika Santos
Capital1 sent shock waves through the Premier Volleyball League by securing former MVPs Erika Santos and Vanie Gandler to bolster the crew ahead of the new season.
Team owner Milka Romero formally announced the blockbuster signings on Thursday, May 14, giving Gandler and Santos a new home following Cignal’s leave of absence from the league
“We are grateful for this milestone. Welcoming experienced veterans is what we need to put an exclamation point to what the team is, which is to win, and hopefully, get a championship along the line,” said Romero.
The team has also signed up setter Jaja Maraguinot through free agency.
Bella Belen, Capital1’s top player, played a crucial role in the team’s recruitment drive, revealing that she personally helped convince Gandler and Santos to join the squad during the recent PVL All-Star festivities.
“Na-convince po namin sila. I’m very excited sa kung anong magiging performance po namin for the upcoming season,” Belen said.
Gandler and Santos, meanwhile, welcomed their new roles with the Solar Spikers, although both admitted that the transition to a new team was far from easy. The duo had just powered Cignal to its first-ever All-Filipino finals last month before the franchise announced its leave of absence from the league.
“It wasn’t easy, especially with the season we had just come out of. It was really heartbreaking for us, but you know, we just need to move forward,” said Gandler.
“But I’m taking it as a new challenge for me. Playing on the other side of the court against them (Capital1), I saw the growth and the potential of the team. I wanted to join a team that I’m not just a missing piece. I wanted to be there to build a team with them and help them write a story,” she added.
“Kailangan naming i-process yung pangyayari. Attached na kami sa mga teammates namin tapos kailangan naming mag-start ulit. Pero andito na kami, and excited na rin kami sa new chapter namin,” Santos, meanwhile, said.
With the acquisition, the Solar Spikers emerged as a legitimate contender with Gandler, Santos and Maraguinot joining Jasmine Nabor, Pauline Gaston and Leila Cruz, to name a few.
Last conference, they finished eighth after losing in the play-in quarterfinals match.

Related Tags

Vanie Gandler Erika Santos Capital1 Solar Spikers Premier Volleyball League
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