FROM once letting the blue-and-white shine bright in their respective eras as Blue Eagles (nee, Lady Eagles), Alyssa Valdez and Vanie Gandler continue to take flight as Katipunan's products in the pros, carrying the Ateneo way with them.
And in their championship clash in the PVL, it was more seasoned, Valdez-led Creamline that got the better of title-hungry, Gandler-powered Cignal.
Just outside the euphoria of the Cool Smashers' long-awaited return to the summit was a contrasting scene at the other end, where the Super Spikers absorbed another heartbreak, albeit with signs of a breakthrough in securing its third silver finish.
Gandler, fresh off a 26-point outing in Game 2, found a quiet spot on the floor of the Big Dome to sit and reflect, as her efforts just fell short of forcing a deciding match.
Moments later, Valdez made her way through the busy sea of bodies on the floor to reach out not only to a fellow competitor, but also a friend.
She approached Gandler, knelt down, and embraced her. A brief exchange then followed before the Creamline captain returned to her side of the court.
For the Cignal star, who once looked up to the ‘Phenom,’ that moment carried weight beyond the result.
“Ate Ly, she went up to me and said that I deserve everything I have now, and she really congratulated me and told me that there’s nothing to be ashamed of. And I super appreciate that,” she said.
“Ate Ly and I have gotten pretty close in the past year. I’m really grateful for her and she’s always been an ate to me. Of course, she was once my idol and hearing those words from her means so much.”
READ: Defiant Gandler now has MVP trophy to show all her doubters
Even without the biggest prize, Gandler still walked away with a milestone, claiming her first MVP.
Coming soon: Vanie, PVL champ
Valdez, a three-time MVP herself, believes it is only a matter of time before that individual honor turns into a long-awaited championship for the 25-year-old Super Spiker.
“Sabi ko nga sa kanya, konting-konti na lang kasi siyempre, for me, it’s really a different playing ground pagdating sa finals, but they’ve shown that they were really deserving to be here,” she said.
“Sabi ko, konting-konti na lang ‘yan, you’ll be able to get your first-ever championship. Pero siyempre if kami ‘yun, hindi rin kami papayag.”
More than anything, Valdez took pride in how Gandler has grown, not just as a player, but as someone who continues to embody where she came from.
“Alam ko kung gaano pinaghirapan ni Vanie at trinabaho niya kung sino siya ngayon, so I’m very, very proud of her,” she said.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
