MANILA, Philippines — Ishie Lalongisip left everything on the floor to lead shorthanded Cignal’s gallant stand in a tough loss to perennial champion Creamline in the PVL All-Filipino Conference Saturday night.

Lalongisip, the No. 7 pick of Cignal last year, continued to step up for her team, dropping a career-high 19 points that sparked the High Speed Hitters’ fightback from two sets down.

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“After that crucial call nung second set, mas lalo akong nanggigil bumawi kasi I know we could get that set. Ang minindset ko lang that time is we need to stick sa system namin kasi nakikitang kong effective siya sa game namin, kapag nawawala ako yun lang ang iniisip ko mga reminders ni coach Shaq (Delos Santos),” Lalongisip told Inquirer Sports, recalling a moment in the second set where Cignal yielded a point after losing a mid-rally challenge.

READ: PVL: Creamline slips past Cignal in 5 sets to stay unbeaten

“Also, ate Dawn (Macandili-Catindig) reminded us na hindi pa tapos may three sets pa na pwede namin kunin and ang sarap kasing makitang lumalaban yung teammates ko kaya mas lalo akong naging eager makipagsabayan pa. I know if kaya ng kabilang team, kaya din ng team ko,” the rookie out of Adamson said.

Lalongisip and the HD Spikers’ valiant efforts weren’t enough, falling to a 5-3 record after back-to-back losses.

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“After the game po it was sad because andoon kami tapos  kinapos lang ulit but then I was very, very happy for the performance of the team. Grabe yung puso and kapit ng bawat isa knowing na Creamline was up by two sets. Andoon na kase yung fatigue factor, and also yung crowd grabe ang sarap maglaro lalo,” she said.

“No regrets because we know sa sarili namin na we gave our best kaya it’s a win situation for us that we can bring sa mga next games namin.”

From a service specialist, Lalongisip has stepped up as a starter since the sudden departure of Ces Molina and Ria Meneses, averaging 13.3 points in the past three games on top of her steady floor defense.

READ: PVL: Depleted Cignal gets big lift from Ishie Lalongisip, Judith Abil

“To be honest, pinepressure ko talaga yung sarili ko everyday sa training like in a positive way para ma-push talaga yung sarili fullest potential. Parang it’s a blessing in disguise na nagkaron rin ako ng playing time kaya hindi ko talaga to sinasayang and ginagawa ko lahat everyday para maging disciplined and mag improve pa everyday kahit one percent pa yan,” she said.

“I know I’m not alone in the team naman, I have my coaches and my teammates to guide me and to fight with this conference. I know we could do big things together.”

Losing three of their last four games, Lalongisip and the HD Spikers hope to bring all the learnings and positivity they showed against the Cool Smashers as they try to regain momentum in the final stretch of the preliminary round.

“Madadala ko sa next game namin is yung grit, yung gigil manalo at bumawi. Because the past two games for me are actually not losses, it’s a learning experience,” said Lalongisip. “Laging doon ako tumitingin sa positive side ng bawat situations. I remember what sir Flav [my manager] told me that “everything takes time if hindi pa ngayon basta gawin mo lang yung best mo.”