In a five-set duel that tested execution, resilience and nerves to the limit, Farm Fresh found the finishing touch while Choco Mucho faltered at the crucial moment as the Foxies escaped with a pulsating 20-25, 26-28, 25-23, 25-23, 15-13 victory in the PVL All-Filipino Conference Siklab Series late Thursday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Trisha Tubu delivered the final blow, soaring for a thunderous kill off an expertly timed backset from Alohi Robins-Hardy after a crucial defensive dig, capping a gripping fifth-set battle that stood out as the fiercest among the five matches that went the distance in the conference's first 12 games.
The Foxies had to summon every ounce of composure to finish the job, recovering from a two-set deficit before holding their ground in a decider that swung back and forth, with neither team willing to yield until Farm Fresh finally found the opening to strike.
“God gave us this victory,” said an emotional Mylene Paat-Rezanova in Filipino, who scored 15 points, including four blocks, to earn Best Player of the Game honors.
“We prayed for strength and courage, and we believe the victory was a bonus He gave us,” she added.
But Rezanova was far from the Foxies' lone standout in a match that showcased the depth of their attack and their ability to produce under pressure. Farm Fresh leaned on a trio of left-handed hitters who repeatedly found ways through Choco Mucho's defense, with Tubu providing the decisive finish and rookie Jonna Perdido emerging as a crucial spark in the comeback.
Tubu finished with 14 points, while Royse Tubino backed them up with 12 to make up for Ces Molina’s struggles throughout the game as she managed just three points.
Sisi Rondina sizzled with 22 points, while Laure added 18 and Caitlin Viray and Lorene Toring chipped in nine points apiece for the Flying Titans.
Perdido turned in a clutch 11-point performance, helping revive the Foxies when they needed a lift and giving the team another reliable scoring option as the contest wore on. Along with Rezanova and the rest of Farm Fresh's attacking corps, she helped keep the pressure on the Flying Titans with well-placed hits, timely swings and the kind of shot selection that made the difference in the closing sets.
Farm Fresh had threatened to take control early, only to see its advantage slip away in the first two sets. Choco Mucho showed its own resolve to claim the opening frame and survive a tense second-set finish, leaving the Foxies staring at a daunting 0-2 deficit despite stretches of commanding play.
Rather than fold, however, Farm Fresh tightened its defense, stayed patient in the rallies and found better ways to finish its attacks.
The Foxies took the third set, then carried that momentum into the fourth to force a decider and set the stage for a showdown that demanded both tactical discipline and steely nerves.
“We told ourselves that we had to win this one,” said Rezanova. “We had to keep fighting, trust one another and believe in what our coaches were asking us to do.”
The grueling, mentally draining two-hour, 36-minute victory also served as redemption for the Foxies, who suffered a five-set defeat to the Nxled Chameleons last Saturday after battling back from two sets down, only to fall short, 12-15, in the decider.
This time, Farm Fresh made sure the finish would be different.
The Foxies surged to a 6-3 lead in the fifth behind a flurry of powerful hits from Tubu, but Choco Mucho answered with a 6-1 counterattack to seize a 9-7 advantage and threaten to snatch the match away.
Farm Fresh refused to crack. The Foxies regrouped, steadied their reception and defense, and clawed their way back into contention in a tense exchange of points that left little room for error.
After fighting back from a two-point deficit to tie the count at 12, Rezanova put Farm Fresh ahead, 13-12, with a hit off the block. The Foxies moved to match point when Eya Laure sent an attack wide, putting Choco Mucho under enormous pressure.
The Flying Titans challenged the call, but an inconclusive review left the ruling unchanged, marking the third unsuccessful challenge in the match and adding another layer of tension to an already nerve-racking finish.
Laure responded with a powerful hit to save match point and keep Choco Mucho alive, but the Foxies would not be denied. Farm Fresh came up with the crucial dig, Robins-Hardy delivered the right set, and Tubu hammered home the winner to seal the victory and end the Flying Titans' resistance.
It was a fitting finish to a match in which Farm Fresh's three left-handed attackers repeatedly came through with timely contributions, helping the Foxies find the angles and openings needed to overcome Choco Mucho's challenge.
Perdido's 11 points were especially valuable in sustaining the comeback, while Rezanova's all-around effort and Tubu's finishing power proved decisive when the match hung in the balance.
The victory lifted Farm Fresh to a 2-1 record, drawing the Foxies level with Choco Mucho at third in the standings. Nxled, which earlier held off Galeries Tower in four sets, moved to the solo lead at 3-0, while Creamline remained second at 2-0.
