ILAGAN, ISABELA — Alessandro Lodi made a memorable debut in the Premier Volleyball League, going viral in his very first game as head coach of Farm Fresh.
A video that circulated widely on social media showed Lodi passionately shouting at Jolina dela Cruz during a timeout in the Foxies’ 18-25, 21-25, 26-28 loss to the PLDT High Speed Hitters.
“Jolina, I need to understand what the heck are you doing on the court?” Lodi exclaimed in the now-viral moment.
Two weeks later, following Farm Fresh’s second consecutive victory — a sweep of the PVL on Tour leg at the Capital Arena here on Sunday — Lodi finally addressed the viral clip.
While the exchange may have looked harsh, the Italian coach clarified that his players understand his coaching style.
According to Lodi, the incident stemmed from a miscommunication in a substitution involving Dela Cruz and Alyssa Bertolano.
“So the point is, people who see that clip might think, ‘Oh no, what is going on?’ But my players know me,” said Lodi, who is known for his animated presence on the sidelines, celebrating every point with intensity.
“They know me very well. They understand why I get loud, and they know how much I love them. What people saw was just a surface-level moment. My players always react well because they know that, ultimately, they made a mistake. I’m just letting them know that.”
(C) PVL Images
Dela Cruz, for her part, didn’t feel fazed by the moment.
In fact, the De La Salle University alumna took it as motivation, responding with two stellar performances for the Foxies in Ilagan.
The 5-foot-9 outside hitter racked up 16 points and eight excellent receptions in their 23-25, 25-19, 25-23, 26-24 win over Choco Mucho on Saturday.
She followed it up with 12 points, five digs, and five receptions in their 25-23, 25-21, 25-23 sweep of Petro Gazz on Sunday.
“Si coach kasi ngayon, we know we’re not afraid to make mistakes. Ganon siya,” said Dela Cruz.
“Gusto niya ilabas lang namin yung laro namin and ayun nga, unti-unti, nalalabas namin at gumagaan. Nare-relax din kami.”
