Cignal HD Ishie Lalongisip in the PVL All-Filipino Conference. PVL Media

MANILA -- Showing maturity beyond her years, rookie Ishie Lalongisip rose to the occasion to keep shorthanded Cignal as one of the top contenders in the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference.

Following the shocking departure of main hitter and skipper Ces Molina and middle blocker Riri Meneses mid-season, the HD Spikers found a gem in the seventh overall pick in the first-ever Draft.

Lalongisip repaid the trust given to her by head coach Shaq Delos Santos by coming up with a stellar performance as she stepped up when Cignal needed her the most. 

The Adamson University product was a revelation after dropping 13 points to help the HD Spikers arrest a two-game skid in a 25-12, 25-15, 25-17 rout of Capital1 last Thursday at Philsports Arena.

READ: Cignal cruises past struggling Capital1 for bounce back win

Cignal hiked its record to 6-3 and remained in the upper half of the standings.

For her consistency and determination, Lalongisip earned the distinction as the first-ever rookie to win the PVL Press Corps Player of the Week presented by Pilipinas Live for the period of February 4 to 8.

"Ine-embrace ko lang yung role na binigay sa akin ni coach Shaq [Delos Santos], parang siguro yung pressure laging nandyan, ineentertain ko lang siya as positive," said Lalongisip.

"Like everyday sa training, tinatiyaga ko lang din kahit nandon yung factor ng pagod, pero alam ko at the end of the day may natutunan ako sa ensayo namin," she added.

At 23 years old, Lalongisip has proven that diamonds are made under pressure. Her ability to step up in crucial moments helped her edge out PLDT's Savi Davison, Petro Gazz's Brooke Van Sickle, and Creamline's Bea De Leon, as well as Choco Mucho's Sisi Rondina and Nxled's EJ Laure in a tightly contested weekly citation selection determined by print and online journalists covering the tournament, which is streamed live and on-demand via the Pilipinas Live app and on www.pvl.ph.

Ushering a new era for the HD Spikers, Lalongisip embraces the bigger role, greater responsibilities, and the journey that has brought her to this moment.

"In positive side, mas nagkaroon ako ng playing time, so mas na-maximize ko rin kung anong meron ako, and everyday katulad ng sabi ni coach Shaq, tiyaga lang palagi," Lalongisip said.

"Before mapunta sa position na ‘to, parang nil-look back ko rin kung ano yung pinagtrabahuan ko nung past and ngayong nandito na ako, parang mas grateful ako kasi dumating ako kasi alam ko sa sarili ko na hindi ako titigil magtrabaho kasi nagsisimula pa lang ako and mahaba pa journey ko."

Lalongisip and the Cignal HD Spikers will look to build on their renewed momentum as they prepare to meet familiar faces in the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles in a pre-Valentine's Day special at the same venue in Pasig City.

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