Capital1 sent a strong message ahead of the 2026 Premier Volleyball League season after securing reigning MVPs Vanie Gandler and Erika Santos to bolster its roster following the offseason shake-up caused by Cignal’s temporary exit from the league.
The Solar Spikers formally introduced Gandler, Santos, and veteran setter Jaja Maraguinot during a press conference on Friday at the GameVille Ball Park in Mandaluyong.
Both Gandler and Santos became available after Cignal opted to take a leave of absence shortly after reaching the Finals of the recent PVL All-Filipino Conference.
The acquisitions mark a major step forward for Capital1, which had previously focused on adding complementary pieces around emerging star Bella Belen. This time, however, the franchise landed two of the league’s most decorated scorers to strengthen a core expected to contend more seriously in the upcoming season.
Gandler is coming off a breakthrough campaign in the All-Filipino Conference, where she captured the league MVP award after leading Cignal’s deep playoff run. The former Alas Pilipinas standout, who also shared the national team setup with Belen under coach Jorge Souza de Brito, emerged as one of the conference’s most consistent offensive weapons.
She finished fourth in scoring with 209 total points built on 182 attacks, 17 blocks, and 10 aces.
Santos, meanwhile, continued her rise as one of the league’s premier scorers after previously claiming MVP honors in the PVL On Tour tournament following her transfer from PLDT to Cignal. She ranked sixth in scoring during the All-Filipino Conference with 177 points anchored on 160 attacks, 12 blocks, and five aces.
Their arrival is expected to address one of Capital1’s biggest concerns from last conference, where the team struggled offensively outside of Belen and finished only seventh in spiking efficiency at 28.30 percent.
Maraguinot also provides additional depth at the setter position for the Solar Spikers, who already have Jasmine Nabor, Iris Tolenada, and Nikka Yandoc in the rotation. The veteran playmaker last suited up for Nxled during the Reinforced Conference.
After finishing eighth in the All-Filipino Conference, Capital1 now hopes its revamped lineup can spark a turnaround when it opens its campaign in the PVL On Tour this June.
