Foton came back from being two sets down against Farm Fresh to finally enter the win column, with a score of 18-25, 23-25, 31-29, 25-20, 18-16, in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig on Saturday.
The Foxies duo of Gayle Pascual and Kate Santiago went head-to-head with the Tornadoes’ Shaya Adorador and Mary Rhose Dapol in the fifth set to tie the score at 16-all.
However, it was unsung heroes Jai Atienza and May Luna who delivered the final blows, with a quick kill and a service ace respectively, giving Foton the win in two hours and 37 minutes.
The Tornadoes improved to 1-3 while ending the Foxies’ first conference in the PVL winless at 0-5. Farm Fresh will finish at 13th place while Foton will advance to the classification phase.
“Masaya ako sa performance ng team kasi hindi talaga kami tumigil kahit na 0-3 kami, nandoon pa rin yung encouragement sa mga players na trabahuhin kasi ito yung ibinigay na work sa amin so kailangan hindi kami hihinto, so ito nakuha namin yung sweet victory,” said Foton head coach Brian Esquibel.
Farm Fresh took a commanding 2-0 set lead after narrowly winning the second set, 25-23, before the Tornadoes woke up.
Santiago kept fighting for the Foxies, extending the third frame to a 29-all affair, but Dapol and Adorador came through once again to give Foton the 31-29 win.
Dapol erupted with a game-high 28 points on 25 attacks, along with 16 digs and seven excellent receptions, while Adorador completed the 1-2 punch with 24 points.
Santiago and Wielyn Estoque led the Foxies with 22 points each. Santiago rounded out her game with 22 excellent receptions and 16 digs.
Foton’s wing spiker, Bern Flora, had to be stretchered off the floor in the first possession of the third set after a bad landing, suffering an apparent left knee injury.
Foton’s main libero, Baby Love Barbon, was not in attendance as she is in South Korea due to a prior commitment with her school, the University of Santo Tomas.
Foton will look to make it two in a row on Tuesday at 12 p.m., against F2 Logistics at the same Pasig venue.
