Coming in fresh to the country’s premier women’s volley league, Farm Fresh has stirred up interest days before the kickoff of the Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference at the Filoil EcoOil Centre on Tuesday.
For one, the Foxies have made some aggressive moves that have put them in the conversation in the run-up to their inaugural campaign, tapping former Petro Gazz head coach Jerry Yee and six upstarts in former Adamson spikers Trisha Tubu, Kate Santiago, Kyle Tagsip, and Cae Lazo, and ex-Ateneo players Pia Ildefonso and Joan Narit.
They will be backstopped by “guest players” from reigning NCAA champion College of Saint Benilde, made up of Gayle Pascual, Mitch Gamit, Cloanne Mondonedo, Jessa Dorog, Clydel Catarig, Chin Basarte, Kim Estenzo, Fiona Getigan, Zam Nolasco, Camill Avila, Wielyn Estoque, Cristy Ondangan and Corrine Apostol.
Developing chemistry is the least of the Foxies’ concerns since Yee is currently the head coach of the Lady Blazers while also handling the four Lady Falcons in their team during his time with the San Marcelino-based school.
"So far, they've been training non-stop. For the Blazers, they never stopped training since the NCAA. And coach Jerry has been very hands-on with the team, integrating all of the players into one cohesive unit," said assistant team manager Kiara Cruz.
Farm Fresh is bunched in Group B with Choco Mucho, Cignal, F2 Logistics, Petro Gazz, and fellow newcomer Foton in the tournament organized by Sports Vision and backed by BingoPlus, ArenaPlus, Mikasa, SMART, Rebisco, Kumu, Asics and SportRadar.
The Foxies are also coming into the league assured of full management support.
"On our side, our family is already here in sports while my dad used to play volleyball. Ako rin, I used to play because of my dad. It's a sport that has been lingering around with the family. For us, why not try? We are already in basketball so why not volleyball?" said team manager Janica Lao, daughter of sports patron Frank Lao.
"And the best way to introduce our brand is with the PVL."The management of Farm Fresh knows that results won’t be immediate, having experienced the grind when the Lao family fielded in basketball teams in the NCAA and the PBA from the ground up.
But the franchise’s mindset is on the future with Lao stressing: "We are in this for the long-term. Basically, the goal for the first conference is to get as much wins and introduce the brand to the masses."
"We also want to help the players gain experience and have a stable career in volleyball. We want to give them the opportunity to face their idols," added Cruz.
