Still working her way back to peak form, Rachel Anne Daquis pushed herself to deliver in Farm Fresh’s final game of the preliminary round, determined to enter the qualifying phase of the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference on a high note.
Her efforts paid off as the 37-year-old outside hitter erupted for 19 points, leading the Foxies to a stunning comeback from two sets down to frustrate the Capital1 Solar Spikers in a five-set thriller, 18-25, 21-25, 26-24, 25-19, 15-12, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Daquis top-scored for Farm Fresh with 17 spikes and two blocks while also making her presence felt on defense, tallying 13 excellent digs and six receptions.
“Sabi ko nga kanina, struggling pa ako eh kasi siyempre kahit nakabalik ako, kahit nagrerehab and nagbubuhat ako, ‘yung control sa bola pa din ‘yun pa ‘yung missing sa akin,” said the Far Eastern University legend after the game.
“Pero hindi naman ako sinukuan ng team ko, talagang nilaban nila ako. Best game kasi talagang kailangan namin manalo ngayon pero mas may ilalabas pa tayo basta huwag tayo mag-stop matuto, mag-adjust, and ‘yun siguro mag-focus pa ako sa anong matutulong ko,” she added.
With the victory, Farm Fresh concluded the preliminaries with a 5-6 record, currently at sixth place with 16 points.
Despite snapping a two-game skid, Daquis urged her team not to be complacent, especially given how they had to claw back from a two-set deficit.
“Good start ito going towards the [qualifying], so ini-aim talaga namin tumaas ‘yung rank namin, so nakuha na namin ito pero we will never stop kasi para sa amin, hindi pa talaga kami solid pero papunta pa lang,” said Daquis, who took a break from volleyball for more than a year before joining the Foxies.
“Kulang pa talaga kasi kung okay kami, hindi kami aabot ng fifth set eh. So una pa lang babanat na kami. So, ibig sabihin, kulang pa pero may progress. ‘Yun naman importante eh, ‘yung paangat kami one step at a time. Happy kami sa result nito kahit fifth set pero dito nasubukan ‘yung character eh.”
Daquis had ample support on offense, with Caitlin Viray contributing 14 points, Rizza Cruz adding 13, and Alyssa Bertolano and Pierre Abellana chipping in 10 apiece.
Lorene Toring also stepped up, scoring nine points off five spikes, three blocks, and a service ace in three sets of action.
“Small win ito sa amin na maganda ‘yung resulta, maganda ‘yung galaw so para sa amin okay ‘yun. Patuloy namin aaralin, patuloy namin isosolid itong team na ito kasi mahaba-haba pa ‘yung laban,” Daquis said.
