Gandler had no regrets with her Ateneo career.
It wasn’t exactly the UAAP career Vanie Gandler had hoped for when she joined the Ateneo Blue Eagles. Nonetheless, she is thankful for it.
In a lengthy Instagram post, Gandler penned an honest and heartfelt message recalling her time in Ateneo, particularly the challenges she had to endure.
The former Blue Eagles spiker admitted that there were times when she wanted to do things a bit differently, only to realize how her experiences good and bad thought her quite a few life lessons.
“When I think of what could have been, I also think of what I could have lost—that, in my case, would be the lessons and connections I made through my journey of self-discovery,” Gandler wrote on her post.
Gandler was a member of the Ateneo squad that emerged as champions in the UAAP Season 81 women's volleyball tournament, defeating the UST Golden Tigresses in Game 3 of the finals.
However, the 5-foot-9 spiker was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic as she was unable to participate in competitive matches for a couple of years.
In what turned out to be her final playing year for Ateneo in Season 85, the Blue Eagles failed to reach the final four for the first time since 2010, finishing sixth in the standings.
Nonetheless, Gandler said she was thankful for everything that Ateneo has done for her.
“Ateneo, thank you for all the values you have instilled in me. Thank you for teaching me the true essence of striving for excellence in everything that I do,” said Gandler.
“It has been a great pleasure fighting for the blue and white,” she added.
Now with the Cignal HD Spikers in the PVL, Gandler is looking to surpass her accomplishments in the UAAP as she has already impressed fans in her debut in the pro league.
(MDB)