Farm Fresh mounted a remarkable comeback despite the absence of Trisha Tubu, rallying from two sets down to complete a reverse sweep against Capital1, 18-25, 21-25, 26-24, 25-19, 15-12, in their final match of the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference preliminaries on Tuesday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
Caitlin Viray and Rizza Cruz delivered back-to-back hits to push the Foxies to match point, but Leila Cruz kept the Solar Spikers alive with a through-the-block hit, 12-14.
Then, 37-year-old Rachel Anne Daquis put the finishing touch on her best game of the conference, firing a sharp crosscourt kill to seal the victory after two hours and 37 minutes.
Daquis, who returned to volleyball after more than a year away before signing with the Foxies, led the team with 19 points on 17 spikes and two blocks. She also contributed 13 excellent digs and six excellent receptions.
“Nakakatuwa naman kasi nakabalik yung mga players na inaasahan namin. First two sets talagang off yung reception namin, wala. Other players have to step up talaga, yung iba hindi na umaalis, yung iba nagka-cramps na pero laban sila kaya buti nakuha yung panalo,” said Farm Fresh head coach Benson Bocboc.
(C) PVL Images
The Foxies snapped a two-game skid and finished the preliminaries with a 5-6 record, tying the Akari Chargers at seventh place.
Capital1, meanwhile, suffered a heartbreaking collapse despite leading 17-8 in the third set. The Solar Spikers clawed their way back to tie the frame at 24, but Daquis and Alyssa Bertolano responded with clutch points to force a fourth set.
Farm Fresh once again had to rally in the fourth, erasing an 8-12 deficit behind Daquis’ efforts to extend the match, 25-19.
“Actually, nung first and second sets nag-struggle ako, pero mas namotivate ako kasi kaya nga ako nandito para tulungan sila, hindi para mas bumaba kami,” Daquis shared about her standout performance for the Foxies.
Tubu, the league’s fourth-best scorer entering the match, was sidelined due to muscle spasms in her lower back.
Viray stepped up with 14 points, while Rizza Cruz added 13. Bertolano and Pierre Abellana chipped in 10 points apiece.
Lorene Toring also made an impact with nine points, including three of Farm Fresh’s 12 total blocks—nine more than Capital1’s output. Libero Janel Delerio anchored the defense with 21 digs and eight receptions.
(C) PVL Images
On the other side, Capital1 ended their campaign with seven straight losses, finishing at the bottom of the standings with a 1-10 record.
Heather Guino-o led the Solar Spikers with 16 points, while Leila Cruz contributed 15. Sydney Niegos added 14 points, Des De Guzman had 11, and Jorelle Singh tallied 11 points, 13 receptions, and 10 digs.
Despite the loss, Roma Mae Doromal shined defensively, recording 26 excellent digs and 22 excellent receptions.
