VIGAN, ILOCOS SUR — Akari rookie Chen Tagaod savored a unique experience in her first-ever professional match during the 2025 PVL On Tour last Sunday — facing none other than her partner, Cignal’s Ishie Lalongisip.
Tagaod admitted she had been anticipating this matchup even before she declared for the 2025 PVL Draft, drawing motivation from Lalongisip’s rapid rise in the league last conference.
“Sobrang important din kasi isa siya sa mga nilo-look forward ko kasi siya nauna sa’min. Happy ako na nakalaban ko siya sa first game namin. Looking forward pa rin sa mga susunod na laro na makalaban ko siya. Proud din sa kanya,” said Tagaod, the tenth overall pick in this year’s draft.
Lalongisip, a former Adamson University standout, made headlines during the 2024–25 PVL All-Filipino Conference after stepping up when Ces Molina and Riri Meneses departed from the HD Spikers mid-season.
From a benchwarmer, she blossomed into a reliable starter, finishing with 134 total points — third best among all players — and clinched the Rookie of the Conference award.
Tagaod, herself a former Far Eastern University star, said seeing Lalongisip’s journey reminded her that success comes with patience and perseverance.
(C) PVL Images
“For me, natutunan ko sa kanya is pasensya talaga kasi nga last year, hindi naman siya starting diba? ‘Yun din ‘yung pinaghuhugutan ko na this conference. Kailangan ko talaga pagtrabahuin bago ko siya makuha,” said Tagaod, who tallied three points in her PVL debut.
The young outside hitter also credited her veteran teammates, particularly Grethcel Soltones and Ivy Lacsina, for easing her transition into the professional scene.
“Sabi niya, enjoy ko lang dahil first game mo yan. Huwag mo kalimutan na nandito ka na. Sabi niya, huwag ka muna ma-pressure sa sarili mo pero huwag mo rin kalimutan na kailangan mong tumulong sa team,” she shared, recalling Lalongisip’s advice.
“May mga Ates naman ako na tumutulong like Ate Gretch na sobrang galing talaga, wala kang masabi, and Ate Ivy also. May mga seniors na tumutulong so mas madali sakin kasi may katulong ako,” she added.
For her part, Lalongisip shared how thrilled she felt to play opposite Tagaod once again — something they hadn’t done since their UAAP Season 86 face-off.
“Hindi naman sa relationship namin pero excited ako para sa kanya. Saka nagulat din kami kasi yung first game, so sobrang saya namin and excited kasi kami agad yung nagharap and nakita naman yung result so may mga next games pa. Supportive lang ako sa kanya,” said the Cignal sophomore.
(C) PVL Images
And while both share a relationship off the court, Lalongisip emphasized their commitment to professionalism during game time.
“From game naman wala munang parang jowa-jowa, focus muna sa game namin so after na kami. Focus kami sa team namin kasi trabaho namin itong volleyball and nasa professional league na kami,” she added.
As she reflects on her first taste of pro-level volleyball, Tagaod is taking all the lessons to heart — grateful, determined, and looking ahead.
“Sa’kin, sobrang happy kasi nga iba ‘yung feeling na naglalaro sa PVL. So ayun, iba na rin mga kasama, parang ayun, adjusting pa rin kasi bagong sistema, bagong coach, ganun. First game pa lang naman, may opportunity pa kami para bumawi,” she said.
“For me, ano talaga, parang problema namin as a team. Kailangan namin mas ma-improve kung paano namin mas yakapin ‘yung sistema na binibigay sa’min at tsaka kung paano namin siya ia-absorb. Dahan-dahan makukuha din namin siya.”
#WATCH: Second-year Cignal spiker Ishie Lalongisip shares what it was like facing Akari rookie Chen Tagaod for the first time since #UAAPSeason85! 🏐
🎥 @jonashdcd /Tiebreaker Times#PVLonTour pic.twitter.com/dANwMx9GaK
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) June 22, 2025
