Not leaving anything to chance, Farm Fresh made a bold statement of intent, unleashing its full arsenal to dismantle Capital1 in straight sets, 25-20, 25-15, 25-21, and secure a quarterfinal berth in the PVL On Tour at the newly built Dasmariñas Arena in Cavite on Saturday.
With everything on the line in a knockout scenario, the Foxies turned up the heat, showcasing their ever-improving chemistry, sharp execution and balanced firepower. They outgunned the Solar Spikers in attacks (42-25), controlled the net with a 13-4 advantage in blocks, and out-served their rivals with eight aces against two.
While they registered 25 unforced errors overall, 13 more than Capital1’s total, Farm Fresh’s overwhelming edge in every major statistical category highlighted their all-around game and made a compelling case for their title aspirations.
Alohi Robins-Hardy orchestrated a 15-excellent set performance, masterfully getting everyone involved on offense while also displaying her own scoring skills with five points to earn Best Player of the Game honors. But the talented playmaker was quick to shift the spotlight to her teammates.
“It’s just about my teammates. I have confidence in them and I always try my best to give them a good ball – and they do what they do best: score points,” said Robins-Hardy, the third overall pick in the recent Rookie Draft.
Farm Fresh, which finished third in Pool A, thus joined early quarterfinalists PLDT, Cignal, Nxled, and Creamline. With six teams vying for the remaining three spots in other knockout matches.
Meanwhile, Capital1 bowed out winless in five Pool B matches in this pre-season tournament organized by Sports Vision, ending their campaign without a single victory.
Despite squandering a sizeable lead, 16-10, in the third set and allowing Capital1 to surge ahead four times – the last at 20-19, the Foxies kept their composure, responding with timely side-outs to prevent the Solar Spikers from gaining full momentum.
Lorene Toring’s quick hit tied the score at 20 before Trisha Tubu delivered her fourth block of the match to push the Foxies back in front. They never relinquished the lead from there as Jolina dela Cruz added another block, and Tubu and Toring answered Sydney Niegos’ point with a hit and an ace, respectively.
Dela Cruz then sealed the one-hour, 24-minute win with a powerful kill that eluded Niegos and bounced off the Capital1 defenders’ arms and out of bounds.
Through Capital1’s strong push in the third, it was Robins-Hardy who kept the Foxies grounded and focused.
“I always try to stay calm,” she said.
And calm they stayed – weathering the Solar Spikers’ last-ditch rally to close out what had largely been a dominant performance.
Tubu topscored with 15 points, while Caitlin Viray and Toring matched 11-point outputs, dela Cruz added 10 markers and Rizza Cruz finished with nine points. Dela Cruz and Viray also shone in defense with six excellent digs and nine receptions, respectively, next to libero Ann Monares’ 14-dig, nine-reception performance.
Capital1’s offense sputtered throughout the match with KC Galdones emerging as the team’s top scorer with just seven points. Trisha Genesis and Pia Abbu managed only six markers apiece, while Niegos added five. Shola Alvarez also struggled to find her rhythm, finishing with just three points.
From the opening serve, Farm Fresh set the tone with relentless offense anchored on precision setting and crisp ball movement. Their scorers came from all angles, led by Tubu, Cruz and Toring, who repeatedly pierced through and around Capital1’s porous defense.
The Foxies' well-distributed attack patterns prevented the Solar Spikers from establishing any kind of defensive rhythm. With Viray and dela Cruz also chipping in at crucial moments, the offensive workload was efficiently shared, making them increasingly difficult to defend.
If its offense delivered the fireworks, Farm Fresh’s defensive wall proved just as formidable, turning back Capital1’s best attempts and frustrating their hitters at every turn. The Foxies’ tenacious floor defense and airtight net coverage led to multiple extended rallies that they mostly won – underscoring their fitness, focus, and fight.
Tubu’s key block midway through the first set gave Farm Fresh a 16-10 cushion and signaled their defensive intent. The Foxies won most of the long rallies, with digs and block touches that blunted Capital1’s momentum before it could even build.
Even when Capital1 mounted brief rallies, the Foxies responded with poise – snuffing threats with key blocks, timely kills and smart plays.
