Vanie Gandler, Dawn Catindig bring Cignal connection to PH team

Cignal HD Spikers’ Vanie Gandler and Dawn Macandili-Catindig during a PVL Game. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines —  Vanie Gandler and Dawn Macandili-Catindig are bringing their Cignal connection to Alas Pilipinas when they lead a young squad in the AVC Challenge Cup from May 22 to 29 at Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Gandler, who has proven herself as a reliable outside spiker for Cignal in the PVL, will be making her Philippine women’s volleyball team debut where she will team up with her fellow pro players including former Ateneo teammate Faith Nisperos and young UAAP stars.

“I’m very excited and of course very grateful that I have this opportunity with Alas Pilipinas, especially alongside my ates and my idols,” Gandler told reporters during the monicker’s unveiling on Wednesday at TV5 Media Center.

READ: PVL: Vanie Gandler wants more after stellar rookie season

“So I’m really excited for the stuff that I’m going to learn from them, and for the experience I’m going to get as well and to be supporting the Philippines.”

The PVL rising star will be having her Cignal teammate and libero Catindig, who is set to share her international experience and guide Gandler and her younger teammates in their national debut.

“I’m looking forward to sharing the experience I earned in the past years [of representing the national team] with the young players,” said the decorated libero in Filipino.

READ: ‘Motivated’ Dawn Macandili-Catindig makes instant impact at Cignal

Catindig, who has been representing the country on the international stage since 2017, is honored to play with a monicker for the first time. 

“Mas solid na ngayon na mas mataas na ‘yung pride na may pinaglalaban na ‘yung team. It’s the first step,” said the HD Spikers’ defensive specialist.

Cignal libero Dawn Macandili-Catindig in the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference. –PVL PHOTO

Gandler is excited to be part of the new era of the women’s national team, which will be called Alas Pilipinas from now on.

“We’re hopeful because you can see that we’re working towards something. Like slowly through the years that it’s gonna build on from here,” she said. 

The Cignal duo teams up with Denso Airybees and Creamline setter Jia De Guzman, Choco Mucho’s Sisi Rondina and Cherry Nunag, Eya Laure and Jennifer Nierva of Chery Tiggo, PLDT’s Dell Palomata, Akari’s Fifi Sharma and Faith Nisperos as well as La Salle’s trio Angel Canino, Thea Gagate and Julia Coronel and National University’s Arah Panique.

It will be coach Jorge Souza De Brito’s final major tournament with the Nationals, who open their Pool A campaign against Australia on Thursday next week, against India on Friday and Iran on Saturday.

The team hopes to surpass its seventh-place finish last year and improve the country’s FIVB World rankings.