Cignal star Ces Molina is grateful and at the same time pressured after winning her first-ever career Most Valuable Player award.

The crack wing spiker was given the highest individual award after a stellar performance in the HD Spikers' run in the Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference during the awarding rites Sunday night at the Philsports Arena.

Molina tried to hold back her tears but was overwhelmed with emotions as her being MVP slowly sank in.

"I really have no idea I'll be the MVP, oh my God! I thought I'll get the outside spiker (award)," Molina said on the same day she led the HD Spikers to a bronze medal finish.

"I'm super happy and grateful because I won't be able to achieve this without the help of my teammates and coaches. I have no words to describe how happy I am."

The 28-year-old San Beda product was the highest-scoring local in the six-team round-robin semifinal that featured guest teams Kinh Bac-Bac Ninh of Vietnam and eventual undefeated champion Kurashiki Ablaze of Japan.

Molina averaged 21.7 points per game in four games in the semis.

The Nueva Ecija pride admitted that winning MVP gave her an added motivation to further develop her craft.

However, she fully understands the pressure of bigger expectations on her for the season-ending third conference a couple of months from now.

"Of course, this is a big inspiration and at the same time (a heavy) pressure because people will expect results from me," she said. mark escarlote