With composure as their compass and control as their creed, the Farm Fresh Foxies turned what was billed as a high-stakes duel into a stunning display of dominance.
In a match where precision meant everything, the Foxies executed to near-perfection, dispatching Nxled, 25-17, 25-20, 25-19, to secure the third semifinal berth in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the FilOil Centre on Tuesday.
The Final Four starts on Saturday at the MOA Arena.
What was expected to be a grueling, down-to-the-wire encounter instead unfolded as a masterclass. Farm Fresh, bracing for a dogfight, found itself dictating the pace from the outset –calm, calculated and clinical.
Nxled, despite its star-studded roster, struggled to find rhythm, its offense reduced to predictability against the Foxies’ sharp reads and disciplined floor coverage.
At the heart of it all was Alohi Robins-Hardy, who orchestrated the offense with poise and precision. Her 16 excellent sets weren’t just numbers – they were strokes of brilliance that kept Nxled guessing and constantly a step behind. She added five points to her tally, but it was her command of the game that truly set the tone for their one-hour, 30-minute masterclass.
“Credit to my teammates for coming out and bringing their A-game,” said Robins-Hardy. “They were putting balls away, and we came out determined to win. Luckily, we ended up on the good side.”
Behind her steady hands, the Foxies’ attack flowed with purpose – unpredictable, balanced and relentless. Their defense, meanwhile, stood firm, turning away Nxled’s attempts with authority and transforming rallies into opportunities.
For a team chasing a breakthrough semifinal appearance after eight conferences, this wasn’t just a win – it was a statement.
“Working together and practicing this past week really helped,” added Robins-Hardy. “We came from a tough loss and had to bounce back. I’m just really proud of this team.”
That previous setback – a four-set loss to PLDT in the qualifying round – now serves as fuel. With momentum firmly on their side, the Foxies march into the Final Four not just as qualifiers, but as legitimate contenders, eyeing both redemption and a historic first title.
Nxled showed brief resistance in the third set, edging ahead 8-6 at the first technical timeout. But whatever hope they built quickly unraveled as Farm Fresh stormed out of the break with a blistering nine-point run, seizing control and never relinquishing it.
Even as the Chameleons scrambled for answers, misfortune struck. Myla Pablo exited after spraining her left ankle, further derailing Nxled’s already wavering charge.
Leyann De Guzman attempted to rally the squad with consecutive hits, but Trisha Tubu responded with timely sideouts, snuffing out any flicker of a comeback. Then came Royse Tubino, who rose to the moment with unwavering resolve, delivering in the clutch to bring the Foxies to match point.
Moments later, it was Tubino, who finished with five points, who sealed the victory – an off-the-block hit that ignited jubilation on the court and the bench.
Tubu led Farm Fresh with 12 points, anchoring the offense with timely hits, while Ces Molina provided solid support with 10 markers, doing most of her damage in the opening two sets. Ara Galang rose to the occasion with nine points in a spirited, confidence-boosting performance, and Riri Meneses chipped in seven, highlighted by three emphatic kill blocks that helped fortify the Foxies’ defensive wall.
Brooke Van Sickle carried Nxled with 13 points, while MJ Phillips added 11 and Pablo contributed nine before her exit. But the much-vaunted trio struggled to sustain momentum, failing to score in decisive spurts when the Chameleons needed them most. Jonah Escamillan, meanwhile, was limited to just five points as Farm Fresh’s defense kept her in check.
Farm Fresh unleashed 47 attack points compared to Nxled’s 36, asserting control at the net with sharper execution and better shot selection. While the Chameleons held a slight edge in blocks, 9-6, it was not enough to offset their costly errors. Nxled handed over 20 free points through miscues and mishits – double the number conceded by the Foxies – ultimately sealing their own downfall.
From uncertainty to authority, from hopeful contenders to undeniable threats, the Foxies have arrived.
And they’re not done yet.
