Farm Fresh Foxies celebrate a point during a victory over the Capital1 Solar Spikers in Dasmariñas, Cavite.–PVL PHOTO
DASMARIÑAS, Cavite — Farm Fresh knocked out the winless Capital1, 25-20, 25-15, 25-21, to advance to the PVL on Tour quarterfinals on Saturday at Dasmariñas Arena here.
The Foxies turned to Trisha Tubu to bounce back from a tough straight-set loss to Nxled last week in Cebu City, where they failed to secure an outright quarterfinal berth.
READ: PVL on Tour: Farm Fresh focused on progress, not win streak
Tubu delivered 15 points off nine spikes, four blocks, and two aces, as Alohi Robins-Hardy scattered the Foxies’ offensive wealth with 15 excellent sets on top of five points.
“I don’t really see it as a responsibility just on me because all of us are helping each other out. It’s not that hard since we’re working together. Thankfully, we made it to the quarterfinals. Now, we just have to keep working harder,” said the multi-awarded opposite spiker in Filipino.
Farm Fresh battles Creamline in another knockout game on August 9 at Philsports Arena, where the franchise guns for its first PVL semifinal appearance against the most successful pro volleyball club in the country.
Lorene Toring and Caitlin Viray delivered 11 points apiece. Jolina Dela Cruz had 10 points, while Rizza Cruz added nine points, highlighted by three blocks. Libero Ann Monares had 14 digs and nine excellent receptions.
Farm Fresh squandered a 15-7 lead in the third set as Pia Abbu caught fire and conspired with Trisha Genesis to tie the frame at 16-all before Rovie Instrella gave the lead to Capital1 twice.
READ: PVL on Tour: Farm Fresh fends off Galeries, boosts QF bid
Genesis maintained the lead to 20-19, but the Foxies formed a strong net defense for a 22-20 advantage. Tubu’s cross-court kill, followed by Toring’s ace and Dela Cruz’s spike, sealed the win in the 90-minute game.
“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 coach Alessandro Lodi. “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.”
“We were pretty good at the end of sets. We were pretty good in those moments of trouble. Now, it would be great if we didn’t help the opponent take us there, but again, we take the positive and we move on and we move forward from there.”
After convincingly winning the opening set, Tubu displayed her two-way arsenal, nailing big blocks aside from her massive attacks before setter Robins-Hardy scored off a dump for an 18-12 lead. Tubu and Lorene Toring capped the 10-point set victory to take a two-set advantage.
Missing coach Jorge Souza De Brito, who is with Alas Pilipinas in Thailand for the SEA V-League, Capital1 lost all six matches, including five from Pool B.
Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.
No one scored in double figures for the Solar Spikers, with KC Galdones pacing the squad with seven points, while Genesis and Abbu added six each.
