MANILA — Former Cignal stars Erika Santos and Vanie Gandler are making their much-anticipated debut for Capital1 in the upcoming Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference.
It's a new chapter for both former league MVPs, joining ex-Rookie of the Year and fellow Alas Pilipinas Women standout Bella Belen in the domestic league in pursuit of a maiden crown for the Solar Spikers franchise.
Santos and Gandler both expressed excitement in suiting up as Solar Spikers, while acknowledging the pressure to perform in the tournament which has a three-series format.
READ: PVL: Capital1 signs MVPs Vanie Gandler, Erika Santos
"Siyempre, nakaka-excite. Thankful pa rin sa opportunity na binigay ng Capital1 sa 'min. Teammate pa rin kami ni Vanie and excited na kami mag-grow with Capital1," said Santos on Monday during the league's 10th anniversary media launch at Novotel Manila Araneta City.
"Expectations, siguro andiyan naman talaga 'yung expectations. Madami ngang sinasabi 'yung mga tao sa bagong recruits and all. Pero 'yun nga, maganda naman 'yung ginagalaw ng team and 'yung chemistry ng bawat isa," the 2025 PVL on Tour MVP added.
"It's very exciting. There's a lot of player movements with each team. And it'll be [my] first time playing for a different team," said Gandler.
Gandler, for her part, echoed the team's long-term vision.
"The pressure is there, for sure. But we're looking at it long term. So we know that to build a team, it's still gonna take time. So we're not pressuring ourselves too much na this first conference, we need to be the best. We're really leaning towards growing more, figuring out how the team should run and really just also finding our place in our new team," said the last PVL All-Filipino Conference MVP.
They are expected to debut in the opening day of the landmark 10th season of the PVL at the SM Seaside Cebu Arena in Cebu.
"It's very exciting of course because it's a new arena. And then we played there, I mean, two years ago or three years ago. And the crowd was very loud. They were very welcoming. So it's always exciting to be back in Cebu," said Gandler.
"Happy lang din kami kasi 'yun 'yung first time na maglalaro kami for Capital1. So 'yun 'yung debut game namin. So magiging memorable siya for us," said Santos.