Akari's Chenie Tagaod and Cignal's Ishie Lalongisip enjoyed their first faceoff in the pros during the PVL on Tour in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.
Akari rookie Chenie Tagaod and Cignal standout Ishie Lalongisip found themselves on opposite sides of the court to open their PVL on Tour campaigns.
Tagaod, making her pro debut, admitted nerves got the best of her in the Chargers' straight-set loss to HD Spikers, 23-25, 14-25, 23-25, on Sunday, June 22 at the Chavit Coliseum in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.
But what the 10th overall pick in the 2025 PVL Rookie Draft took away from the game was more than just a loss.
“Iba ‘yung feeling na naglalaro sa PVL,” said Tagaod, who finished with three points in two sets. “Adjusting pa rin—bagong sistema, bagong coach, ibang kasama. Pero ang laki ng natutunan ko, lalo na pagdating sa utak at technique.”
Facing her partner Lalongisip, made the night even more memorable. After all, the last time two faced inside the taraflex was back in UAAP Season 86 when FEU and Adamson faced off.
“Sobrang important din kasi isa siya sa mga nilu-look forward ko. Happy ako na siya agad ang nakalaban ko sa first game, proud din ako sa kanya,” Tagado bared.
“Sabi niya sa akin, ‘Enjoy mo lang—first game mo ‘yan. Huwag ka ma-pressure pero huwag mo ring kalimutan na tumulong sa team,’” she added.
Lalongisip, now in a bigger role with the HD Spikers, was all support for Tagaod, despite being her opponent that night.
But any notions of romance taking over were quickly brushed aside.
“Excited ako para sa kanya, lalo na’t first game niya agad kami ang kalaban. Masaya kami pareho. May next games pa naman, so supportive lang ako,” said Lalongisp, who had nine markers in the win.
“Pag game naman, wala munang jowa-jowa. Focus kami sa team namin kasi trabaho namin itong volleyball,” she added.
Still, Tagaod admitted that Lalongisip’s Rookie of the Conference plum in the 2024-25 All-Filipino Conference inspires her to stay patient and focused in her own rookie year.
“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,” Tagaod explained.
“May mga ate naman ako na tumutulong like Ate Gretch na sobrang galing talaga, wala kang masabi, and ate Ivy also. May seniors na tumutulong, so mas madali sakin kasi may katulong ako.”