For Akari rookie Chen Tagaod, her professional volleyball debut wasn’t just any ordinary first game.
It was personal.
On the other side of the net stood someone very familiar—her partner, Cignal HD Spikers’ breakout star, Ishie Lalongisip.
The matchup was one Tagaod had quietly anticipated even before she entered the 2025 PVL Draft. For her, it wasn’t just a game—it was a milestone, a moment of shared growth, and a symbol of how far both she and Lalongisip had come.
“Sobrang important din kasi isa siya sa mga nilolook forward ko kasi siya nauna samin,” said Tagaod, the 10th overall pick in the 2025 rookie class. “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.”
While Tagaod is just beginning her journey in the professional ranks, Lalongisip is already building a compelling narrative of her own.
A year ago, the Adamson alumna was largely unknown—a bench player waiting for her chance.
That moment arrived in the 2024–25 PVL All-Filipino Conference when Cignal lost two of its veteran stars mid-season. Thrust into a larger role, Lalongisip responded with poise and power, racking up 134 points—the third-highest among all players—and earning Rookie of the Conference honors.
Her transformation served as a beacon of inspiration for Tagaod, who starred for Far Eastern University in the collegiate scene.
“For me, natutunan ko sa kanya is pasensya talaga kasi nga last year hindi naman siya starting diba?” said Tagaod, who tallied three points in her debut. “‘Yun din 'yung pinaghuhugutan ko na this conference kailangan ko talaga pagtrabahuin bago ko siya makuha.”
Though the spotlight was on the matchup, it was clear the relationship between the two young athletes runs deeper than rivalry. They share not just a court history—but a personal bond that gives their on-court duel a deeper layer of narrative.
And it’s not just Lalongisip who’s helping Tagaod adjust to life in the PVL. The rookie also credits veterans like Grethcel Soltones and Ivy Lacsina for guiding her through the nerves and pressure of her pro debut.
“May mga ates naman ako na tumutulong like ate Gretch na sobrang galing talaga, wala kang masabi, and ate Ivy also,” she said. “May mga seniors na tumutulong so mas madali sakin kasi may katulong ako.”
Even Lalongisip, now in her second year, offered some sage advice to her partner prior to the match.
“Sabi niya, enjoy ko lang dahil first game mo yan. Huwag mo kalimutan na nandito ka na,” Tagaod recalled. “Sabi niya, huwag ka muna ma-pressure sa sarili mo pero huwag mo rin kalimutan na kailangan mong tumulong sa team.”
For Lalongisip, facing Tagaod brought back a sense of excitement—one rooted in pride rather than competition. It was the first time the two shared a court since their clash in UAAP Season 86, and it felt like a full-circle moment.
“Hindi naman sa relationship namin pero excited ako para sa kanya,” Lalongisip said. “Saka nagulat din kami kasi yung first game so sobrang saya namin and excited kasi kami agad yung nagharap… Supportive lang ako sa kanya.”
Still, when the whistle blew, both knew where their priorities stood. Personal ties had to take a backseat to professionalism.
“From game naman wala munang parang jowa jowa, focus muna sa game namin so after na kami,” Lalongisip said with a laugh. “Focus kami sa team namin kasi trabaho namin itong volleyball and nasa professional league na kami.”
