DASMARIÑAS, CAVITE – Farm Fresh booked a quarterfinal berth in the 2025 PVL On Tour with a commanding 25-20, 25-15, 25-21 sweep of Capital1 in the knockout round on Saturday at the Dasmariñas Arena here.
The win, however, didn’t come without a scare.
Holding a comfortable 15-7 lead in the third set, the Foxies suddenly found themselves on shaky ground. Pia Abbu, Trisha Genesis, and Sydney Niegos powered a furious 10-1 rally for the Solar Spikers, aided by a string of Farm Fresh errors.
That run gave Capital1 a surprising 17-16 edge.
Genesis even kept the Solar Spikers within reach at 20-19, but that would be their last taste of the lead. Lorene Toring then took matters into her own hands, scoring three key points during Farm Fresh’s closing 6-1 run to secure the victory in just 90 minutes.
(C) PVL Images
“How did we manage to get into that trouble given the position we were in? And the answer that I give to myself is by shooting ourselves in the foot,” said Farm Fresh head coach Alessandro Lodi, referring to the near-collapse in the third set.
“The positive in that is that adversity happens, and so it’s a bit paradoxical, but it’s not unwelcome when you find yourselves in those moments. You don’t want to have them, but when you find yourselves in those moments — and I said it in the time-out — you get an opportunity also, an opportunity to get out of it,” he added.
The Foxies bounced back from a deflating end to their Pool A campaign in Cebu, where they suffered a straight-set loss to the Nxled Chameleons, 13-25, 16-25, 14-25.
Next up, Farm Fresh faces a tall order as it goes up against 10-time champion Creamline in the knockout quarterfinals on Saturday, August 9, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
Alohi Robins-Hardy anchored the offense with five points of her own and 15 excellent sets, orchestrating a balanced attack that saw four Foxies score in double figures.
Trisha Tubu led the charge with 15 points built on nine spikes, four blocks, and two aces. Caitlin Viray added 11 points and nine excellent receptions, while Toring also contributed 11 markers.
Jolina Dela Cruz tallied 10 points and six excellent digs, while veteran middle blocker Rizza Cruz chipped in nine.
Ann Monares, the 16th overall pick in the 2025 Rookie Draft, also made her presence felt with 14 excellent digs and nine excellent receptions.
Farm Fresh dominated across all key statistical categories: spiking (42-25), blocking (13-4), and service (8-2).
(C) PVL Images
Meanwhile, Capital1, coached by assistant Jerome Guhit in the absence of head coach Jorge de Brito — who remains with Alas Pilipinas Women in the Southeast Asia V.League — concluded their preseason campaign winless in six matches.
KC Galdones led the Solar Spikers with seven points, while Abbu and Genesis added six apiece.
