By Rachel Gonzales

Cignal Most Valuable Players Vanie Gandler and Erika Santos turned Capital1 into a strong title contender ahead of the new Premier Volleyball League season.

The Solar Spikers announced on Thursday the blockbuster signing of Gandler and Santos, who all became available after Cignal filed a leave of absence.

Gandler bannered Cignal’s breakthrough run to its first All-Filipino finals appearance last April, pushing eventual champion Creamline Cool Smashers to the limit before settling for runner-up honors.

The 25-year-old outside spiker played the best conference of her career, capturing the 2026 All-Filipino Conference MVP award — the first individual accolade of her career.

The former Ateneo de Manila standout credited Cignal for her rise since joining the club in 2023, becoming the face of the franchise and eventually a member of Alas Pilipinas women's volleyball team.

At Capital1, Gandler will join forces with fellow Alas standout Bella Belen.

She will also reunite with former Alas coach Jorge Souza De Brito.

Santos also strengthens the Solar Spikers after a breakout stint with Cignal, where she emerged as the PVL on Tour MVP, developed into one of the league’s top opposite spikers, and earned an All-Star starting nod.

The former De La Salle University standout will play for her third PVL team after beginning her career with PLDT High Speed Hitters before transferring to Cignal last year. She reunites with fellow La Salle product Leila Cruz.

Meanwhile, Jaja Maraguinot, who last played for Nxled, has found a new home after missing the previous All-Filipino Conference.

Capital1 reached the Reinforced Conference quarterfinals last year before finishing eighth in the All-Filipino Conference after a Play-In loss to Galeries Tower Highrisers despite Belen’s breakout campaign that earned her Rookie of the Conference and Best Outside Spiker honors.